Peony Garden at Ueno Toshogu

Ueno Park is known for its candy-colored cherry blossoms but there are other blooms that deserve some attention here in the springtime. Stop by the Ueno Toshogu Shrine from mid-April to early May for a tour of the spring peony garden. The carefully-tended flowers are laid out in a maze-like formation, with the delicate petals protected by dozens of paper umbrellas. There are multiple species of peonies, some from as far afield as South America. If you compose your photos properly, you might even be able to capture Ueno's five-story pagoda behind the blooms.