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4 Spots for Sakura Along the Water in Tokyo

Rivers Cherry Blossoms Tokyo Greater Tokyo
4 Spots for Sakura Along the Water in Tokyo

As the sakura (cherry blossom) season arrives in spring, you'll see many people gathering at parks under the cherry trees enjoying the scene and having picnics for hanami. If you want ideas besides picnics, however, how about walking along the river? You'll definitely appreciate the beauty of sakura from another angle!

4. Meguro River

4. Meguro River

This is a famous spot for hanami, as it's always advertised in the media and a popular filming location. It's amazing to see the river running between two rows of sakura with paper lanterns peeking out in between. When the petals drop to the water below, you can even see a lovely river painted in sakura pink!

3. Kanda River

3. Kanda River

The Kanda River flows from Inokashira Park in western Tokyo to join the Sumida River in the east, following the Sobu Line through central Tokyo. This isn't such a famous river, but it's one of the nicest spots in town during the spring. The sakura bloom all along the river between Iidabashi and Ichigaya Stations, and the Canal Café just west of Iidabashi Station is a great place to grab a bite and even row a boat along the pink-lined river.

2. Chidorigafuchi

2. Chidorigafuchi

Chidorigafuchi is a famous sakura southwest of Nippon Budokan. Here you'll find cherry trees lining the moat of the Tokyo Imperial Palace. It's especially lovely to see when the wind blows and the cherry blossoms fall onto the river. It's also a great spot for yozakura (seeing cherry blossoms at night), as the entire stretch is illuminated, and you can take some beautiful pictures.

1. Sumida River

1. Sumida River

During the cherry blossom season, ferries run day and night along the famous Sumida River. It's nice to enjoy the sakura surrounded by some of the oldest neighborhoods in Tokyo, all overseen by the city's newest major landmark, Tokyo Skytree.