After reading a few posts on cherry blossoms, and some friday favorites, I definitely wanted to share my weekend a few weeks ago at Tokyo. From South Korea where I live, Tokyo is relatively a close city to plan a short trip over the weekend. This April, I chose to go to Tokyo to see the beautiful cherry blossom festival in Nakameguro.
Starting from the middle of March to early April, Japan starts its cherry blossom festival in different cities. In Tokyo, there are also numerous spots, but the festival at Nakameguro River captured my attention. Nakameguro River is a small river, almost like a stream in a quite neighborhood in the Southern part of Tokyo. The cherry blossom trees planted in two sides of this river adds festivity and give people the feeling that Spring is here, to the fullest. With the trees on each side of you and the river flowing in the middle, the river becomes the best photo spot. You can enjoy the small shops in each side of the river, and some street foods, the most famous one with strawberry champagne.
After enjoying the blossoms and to get a little away from the crowd, try going to Onibus Coffee, a small cafe located a few minutes away from the station. This cafe gives more of the cherry blossom sensations from Nakameguro. Located next to a park, and a train station, you fill your eyes with only the cherry blossoms in front of you just when the subway makes its sound passing through you.
In the evening the river turns into a real festival. After the shops close, cozy restaurants and Izakayas welcome the crowds from cherry blossoms. Compared to the peaceful spring atmosphere that the daylight gave you, the night in Nakameguro turns into a lively streets.
I also enjoyed my Friday night at a very local Jazz bar, which was not near Nakameguro. But I do recommend people to visit this place, because it is a Jazz bar that locals go to. What was lucky for me was that Friday was an open session, which meant that anyone who wanted to play and sing could perform by notifying in advance. Suddenly the bar staff turns into an amazing saxophone player. A businessmen seeming to enjoy the music stands up and sings like a Jazz vocal. Anyone who would love to visit a local Jazz bar in Tokyo, this place is a must-go (Jazz SPOT Intro)
The next days in the weekend was also full of cherry blossoms. Enjoy the cherry blossoms in University of Tokyo, where students gathered under the trees for their meet-ups. Then stroll through Ueno Park to join the real big cherry blossom festival with a picnic.
If anyone is planning on visiting Tokyo, or any cities in Japan, I would recommend going in Spring. Honestly, I have only been to Tokyo during this season, but because of the cherry blossoms that captured me that pretty much explains why I would visit Tokyo only in this season.
