Nakameguro's popular cherry blossom festival returns for the first time in four years
Nakameguro is one of Tokyo’s most popular sakura spots, with cherry blossom trees lining the Meguro River through this neighbourhood. This year, get ready for a particularly vibrant cherry blossom season with the return of the Meguro River Sakura Festival for the first time since 2019.
The festival was cancelled the last three years due to Covid-19 restrictions, but is back this spring from March 18 to April 9. This area is renowned for its cherry blossom trees, which create a canopy of pink over the water. You’ll also find local restaurants and shops with stalls set up along the river, and the sakura trees lit up with pretty pink lanterns from 5pm to 8pm.
This part of Nakameguro gets very crowded during the festival, especially on weekends during peak bloom, so there will still be some restrictions in place to manage the crowds. Eating and drinking while walking is discouraged, as is putting down a sheet to have a picnic under the trees. If you want to find some quieter spots, head over early in the morning or try to move further down the river away from Nakameguro Station.