
Iidabashi's Sotobori Park (そとぼりこうえん) is on my cherry blossom bucket list this year. Iidabashi was originally my daily commute route, and the scenery here, along with the Kagurazaka area with its strong Franco-Japanese atmosphere, is a place I truly love.
From Iidabashi Station to Yotsuya Station, this approximately 2-kilometer route is lined with Yoshino cherry trees, about 730 trees in total, adding a poetic and romantic touch to the path. One side of the river has a walking path densely planted with cherry trees, while the other side runs along the railway, with fewer trees, but offering different beautiful perspectives from every angle. Especially during the full bloom season, you can see JR Sobu and JR Chuo Line trains passing through the cherry tree-lined landscape, creating a mesmerizing blend of motion and stillness.
I abandoned the idea of capturing the perfect shot and could only walk along the outer pedestrian path, hoping to catch a glimpse of trains passing through the cherry trees on the opposite bank.
Gazing at the trains speeding past the cherry trees in the distance, then looking back at the people in the coffee shop, I couldn't help but feel a bit envious.
During this season, you can also see people rowing small boats on the water, combined with cherry blossoms and trains - it's utterly romantic! Then I walked to the other side of Sotobori Park. The side with the coffee shop was purely a pedestrian path where you could only walk and not stay long, with no places for people to rest. So you need to cross to the other side of the coffee shop to find a place to rest.
Iidabashi Sotobori Park: Detailed Tokyo Cherry Blossom Route
My cherry blossom route typically starts at the Kagurazaka district, a great place to enjoy Japanese cuisine. After lunch, I'll stroll to Sotobori Park, walking slowly along the cherry blossom promenade, enjoying a leisurely time. Then I'll head to the nearby "Yasukuni Shrine" and "Chidorigafuchi" to view the cherry blossoms. Walking from Sotobori Park to Yasukuni Shrine takes only 8 to 10 minutes, creating a very pleasant cherry blossom walking route. As the map shows, the route from Iidabashi Station to Yotsuya Station lined with cherry trees along Sotobori Park's walkway isn't strenuous at all. You can walk leisurely and still see trains passing by.
Recommended Iidabashi Station Cherry Blossom Cafe: CANAL CAFE
Every spring, CANAL CAFE near Iidabashi Station becomes a top choice for cherry blossom enthusiasts. This cafe not only provides an excellent cherry blossom viewing spot but also allows you to enjoy the romantic spring atmosphere while sipping Japanese cherry blossom tea. I've been to this place before and decided I must visit during the full bloom of spring. However, as soon as I reached the entrance, I realized it wasn't going to be easy - there was a long queue of people waiting to enter, and this was on a weekday afternoon! It seemed impossible to enjoy afternoon tea and cherry blossoms inside the cafe.
I abandoned the beautiful and naive idea and could only walk along the outer pedestrian path, hoping to catch a glimpse of trains passing through the cherry trees on the opposite bank.
Gazing at the trains speeding past the cherry trees in the distance, then looking back at the people in the coffee shop, I couldn't help but feel a bit envious.
During this season, you can also see people rowing small boats on the water, combined with cherry blossoms and trains - it's utterly romantic!
Then I walked to the other side of Sotobori Park. The side with the coffee shop was purely a pedestrian path where you could only walk and not stay long, with no places for people to rest. So you need to cross to the other side of the coffee shop to find a place to rest.
Beautiful Spring Moments: A Combination of Cherry Blossoms, Trains, and Delicious Food
I casually found a chair to sit on, preparing to enjoy the still-warm taiyaki I had bought from "Kagurazaka Kuriko-an" in Kagurazaka. Unable to have afternoon tea at CANAL CAFE, I'll have taiyaki instead! I'll introduce this shop another time - it's truly delicious! Sitting on a park bench, savoring the tasty taiyaki, with trains passing by, the distant cafe, and the cherry blossom-lined riverbank in view. At this moment, a gentle spring breeze, with pigeons and sparrows occasionally walking by, added infinite liveliness and romance to the scene.
As trains continued to pass busily, my camera shutter clicked non-stop.
The rapeseed flowers on the small slope were also trying to compete for attention.
Hosei University by Sotobori Park
Hosei University is also located next to Sotobori Park. Even without entering the campus, you can appreciate its modern architectural beauty from the outside.
Recommended Tokyo Cherry Blossom Spot: Yasukuni Shrine
Soon I reached the mid-point of Sotobori Park and decided to take a detour to Yasukuni Shrine and Chidorigafuchi for cherry blossom viewing. Crossing the street, it takes less than ten minutes to reach Yasukuni Shrine.
The cherry blossoms at Yasukuni Shrine are of a relatively low-growing variety. The blooming cherry blossoms seem to almost cover the sky, like a canopy of sakura. The afternoon sunlight filters through the branches and leaves, adding warmth and tranquility to the shrine, stirring a sense of comfort in my heart.
Kindergarten teachers also brought out the cutest baby strollers - it was the most beautiful scene.
I had previously visited Yasukuni Shrine to admire the magnificent ginkgo trees, thinking they were beautiful enough, but during this cherry blossom season, I was surprised by the breathtaking beauty of the cherry blossoms here!
Moreover, within the shrine, there's a cherry tree known as the "Sakura Standard Tree" - a Somei Yoshino cherry tree. This unassuming tree is famous because it serves as the benchmark for Tokyo's cherry blossom blooming predictions. The announcement of when Tokyo's cherry blossoms will bloom depends on this tree, adding special significance to this place.
Before leaving, I took one more look back, trying to memorize the moment's feelings and beautiful scenery. The cherry blossoms at Yasukuni Shrine are truly incredibly beautiful.
Recommended Tokyo Cherry Blossom Spot: Chidorigafuchi
Next, I headed to the next famous cherry blossom spot: Chidorigafuchi. You can also reach Chidorigafuchi directly by getting off at the "Kudanshita" station. The route is lined with beautiful cherry blossom scenery.
This is the highlight of cherry blossom viewing because you can appreciate the cherry blossoms on both sides of the river while watching boats pass by, with the silhouette of Tokyo Tower in the distance. Chidorigafuchi is famous for its beautiful night cherry blossoms, but the crowds can be overwhelming and might negatively impact your viewing experience, to the point where you might feel you can't even breathe. Therefore, it's recommended to visit during less crowded times or explore other less-known cherry blossom locations. Nearby are the Imperial Palace and the North Palace Garden, originally a royal-exclusive garden, which also offers cherry blossoms to view. While there are quite a few visitors on-site, the current crowd is still relatively comfortable! Because once night falls, it becomes chaotic - the night cherry blossom viewers are so numerous that police and management personnel are deployed to maintain order.
This is a photo I took last year during night cherry blossom viewing. At this famous spot, you need to queue and wait for batches of people to be allowed to approach. Due to my short height, even with my arms raised as high as possible, the overwhelming crowd meant I could only capture this kind of view. After taking just two or three photos, I felt dizzy. I had to switch to photographing river scenery instead.
I found night cherry blossom viewing at Chidorigafuchi far from ideal - the crowds were unimaginably dense, just like at Meguro River. It's too famous. I probably won't want to view night cherry blossoms here again; visiting some less-known locations would be much more pleasant.
Conclusion
Tokyo's spring is a canvas painted with blooming cherry blossoms. From the gentle start at Sotobori Park to the historical depth of Yasukuni Shrine, and the romantic climax at Chidorigafuchi, this cherry blossom route not only allows one to experience the beauty of spring but also deeply feel the harmonious coexistence of Japanese culture and nature. On this route, every step is filled with discovery and surprise. Whether it's a quiet afternoon under the cherry blossoms or the romantic atmosphere under nighttime lights, it leaves an unforgettable impression.
Note: This article was originally written in Chinese and has been translated into English using AI translation.
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