Nakameguro Cherry Blossoms 目黒川の桜

Celebrate the arrival of spring at Meguro River—perhaps the best spot in Tokyo to view the sakura cherry blossoms. The sakura trees turn the riverside promenade into shades of white and pink.

You can easily access the Meguro River Park from either Meguro Station or Nakameguro Station, both of which are a five-minute train ride from Shibuya.

If you want to enjoy more of the river, start from Meguro Station. Head southwest from the station and you'll hit the river. Follow it north to Nakameguro . Alternatively, to find yourself right in the heart of festivities, head to Nakameguro Station on the Toyoko or Hibiya lines. The river is directly outside the station.

Roughly 800 sakura trees line the banks along the Meguro River. Take your time and enjoy the river walk, or find a nice spot to stop and have a picnic. Cherry blossom viewing has been a staple of Japanese tradition for centuries.

Nakameguro turns the lights on after dark. The trees are illuminated and festive food and drinks are on sale along the river. Night viewing adds a different dimension to traditional cherry blossom viewing.

You can usually count on trees blooming around late March in Tokyo, but be aware that the timing varies each year. An annual cherry blossom forecast is released by the government leading up to spring.

Nakameguro is a residential area, and becomes crowded during cherry blossom season. Take care not to leave trash such as food and drink containers or walk onto the busy road. Be considerate of others when taking photos, and try to keep noise to a minimum, especially at night.