The Meguro River, particularly the stretches of it intersected by Nakameguro Station, is one of the most popular cherry blossom viewing areas in Tokyo each year.
While the river itself isn’t particularly beautiful, with the water metres down in a concrete canal that resembles a stormwater drain, it’s the heavy plantings of cherry trees either side of it that draw the crowds. The trees hang over the narrow river, forming a canopy of cherry blossoms about it that goes on for kilometres. This turns the area into a serious crush of locals and tourists day and night and especially on weekends, for the week or so that the flowers are in bloom. In wintertime, the trees are illuminated with thousands of fairy lights, making for another beautiful seasonal event.
Other times of the year, the green corridor either side of the river near Nakameguro Station makes for a relaxing stroll through a flat, pedestrian-friendly area packed with hip stand-alone cafes, restaurants, bars and independent fashion, vintage, antiques, homewares and accessories stores.
The district is famed as a ‘cool’ and ‘artsy’ neighbourhood and has become a hot spot for good coffee. While Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo has been getting a lot of the attention since it opened, it’s worth checking out Onibus Coffee, for its on-site roasting and architecturally striking building. There’s also Artless Craft Tea and Coffee, run by famed designer Shun Kawakami, which serves single origin coffee and organic teas in its minimalist space.
Aim to spend some time in this area. Its many charms are best found by exploring freely, including in the side streets running off either side from the river. Don’t worry about getting lost either – the Meguro River serves as an easy compass to take you back to where you need to go.
Address: (Via Nakameguro Station) 3 Chome-4-1 Kamimeguro, Meguro City, Tokyo
Getting there: 2-minute walk from Nakameguro Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and Tokyu Toyoko Line)
Nearby: Locale, Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo
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