Enjoy Cherry Blossoms and Gourmet Food on a Tram This Spring in Tokyo!
Cherry blossoms herald in spring in Japan. In Tokyo, they begin to bloom in late March. This article will introduce a sightseeing plan for Tokyo that combines cherry blossom viewing and gourmet foods in a ride on “Tokyo Sakura Tram (Toden Arakawa Line),” which takes an efficient route through great cherry blossom locations!
If you use the “Toei One-day Pass,” sold by Toei (Toei Subway, Toei Buses, Toden, etc.) and valid for one day of unlimited travel, the trip will be both convenient and cost-effective!
What is the Toei One-day Pass (Toei Marugoto Kippu)?
Valid for one full day, it offers unlimited access to Toei subways. This allows users to freely hop on and off Toei buses (including the Tama area), the Tokyo Sakura Tram (Toden Arakawa Line), and the Nippori-Toneri Liner. Mastering the Toei lines enables users to travel smoothly without missing anything that Tokyo has to offer.
A Spring Sightseeing Plan for Tokyo Via Tram
Start!! 9:45am, Takadanobaba Station
Our sightseeing plan starts at Takadanobaba Station. We’ll walk to our first destination, “Omokagebashi Bridge.” (About a 15-minute walk.)
10:00am, Omokagebashi Bridge
Take a stroll around the cherry trees that line the Kanda River, just in front of the Omokagebashi stop. The dynamic views from the bridge of the cherry blossoms as they reach over the river are absolutely breathtaking. Furthermore, even after the season when the blossoms are in full bloom has passed, the river is filled with scattered petals floating about, making yet another beautiful sight.
Just as you’re likely to start feeling a bit hungry, take the Tokyo Sakura Tram (Toden Arakawa Line) and head from Omokagebashi stop to Otsuka-ekimae stop. (About 11 minutes.)
After about a 3-minute walk from Otsuka-ekimae stop, we’ll arrive at our next destination, “Onigiri Bongo.”
11:30am, Onigiro Bongo
This onigiri specialty shop is frequently featured on TV and always has a never-ending queue. They offer a total of 55 different kinds of onigiri, each packed with plenty of filling! You’re sure to smile when you take a bite out of one of their big, warm onigiri! English, Chinese, and Korean menus are available.
Even if you’re full, you can’t skip out on a sweet treat! After about a 10-minute walk from Onigiri Bongo we’ll arrive at Ganso Shiodaifuku Mizuno.
1:00pm, Ganso Shiodaifuku Mizuno
This store is the birthplace of shio-daifuku (salt and bean mochi), the specialty of Sugamo Jizo-dori Shopping Street. Not only are they made with carefully-selected Japan-local ingredients, but the amount of salt in these daifuku is even varied with the seasons to create an appropriate flavor. The combination of soft mochi and perfectly salty-sweet bean paste is irresistible!
Their cute rabbit-shaped monaka (a Japanese sweet made sandwiching red bean paste between crisp wafers) are also perfect for gifts!
While we walk around the bustling shopping district, we’ll head back towards Tokyo Sakura Tram (Toden Arakawa Line) at Koshinzuka stop. (About a 10-minute walk.)
From there, we’ll get back on Toden and head to Oji-ekimae stop. (About 9 minutes)
After about 2 minutes on foot we’ll arrive at our next destination, “Oji Ogiya.”
2:30pm, Oji Ogiya
Since its founding in 1648, this long-established store has sold thick omelet rolls, each hand-made one by one. The combination of the store’s own special recipe and traditional cooking techniques result in a fluffy tamagoyaki (rolled omelet) with a delicately sweet flavor.
Once you’ve bought your tamagoyaki, it’s time to head to “Asukayama Park,” a famous cherry blossom viewing location. (About a 5-minute walk)
3:00pm, Asukayama Park
Featuring cherry blossoms planted by Tokugawa Yoshimune, the 8th Shogun general of the Tokugawa Shogunate (a political group from about 400 years ago), this was the first park in Japan to be opened to the masses. It is now one of Tokyo’s most famous cherry blossom viewing locations, featuring around 600 cherry trees. We also recommend seeing the illuminated cherry blossoms at night.
After enjoying Tokyo’s cherry blossoms to their fullest, it’s time to end the day with some yakitori (grilled chicken skewers).
Let’s take the Tokyo Sakura Tram (Toden Arakawa Line) from the Asukayama stop, about a 3-minute walk from the park, to Kumanomae stop. (About 17 minutes)
After about a 3-minute walk from Kumanomae stop, we’ll arrive at our final destination for the day, “Binchotan Yakitori Toshi.”
5:30pm, Binchotan Yakitori Toshi
The Mioudori chicken used in the yakitori here is carefully selected by the chef, and it’s characterized by the high-quality feed the chicken is raised on and its resulting tender meat. The yakitori is grilled with care over binchotan white charcoal, resulting in a delicious and juicy dish.
If you’re not sure what to order, we recommend starting off with their recommended Mioudori chicken assortment. (650 yen)
After enjoying your dinner, it’s time to take a leisurely stroll back to the Tokyo Sakura Tram’s (Toden Arakawa Line) Kumanomae stop.
Goal!! Tokyo Sakura Tram’s (Toden Arakawa Line) Kumanomae Stop
You can reach the Nippori area from the nearby Nippori-Toneri Liner’s Kumanomae Station.
What did you think about this sightseeing plan for Tokyo’s cherry blossoms and gourmet delights?
Consider the following article, which carefully selects and introduces cherry blossom spots in Tokyo, to enjoy cherry blossom viewing in the city.