This riverside cherry blossom festival in Tokyo offers a nostalgic Edo period vibe
With the 2024 sakura season just around the corner, this is the time to visit one of Tokyo’s many cherry blossom festivals. To get a feel of what hanami (the culture of cherry blossom viewing) was like back during the Edo period (1603-1867), you can visit the annual Oedo Fukagawa Sakura Festival that takes place along the banks of the Oyokogawa River near Monzen-nakacho Station.
The festival grounds are home to 270 somei-yoshino trees, which flank the river. For the best view of the flowers, we recommend hopping aboard an old school river boat to appreciate the gorgeous, low-hanging sakura branches.
To replicate those Edo-era vibes, this special boat ride will be steered by a boatman with an oar. An accompanying boat will be trailing nearby, carrying musicians playing the shamisen (traditional Japanese three-stringed instrument). If you prefer a more modern experience, larger engine-powered boats are also available.
For the traditional boat ride, you'll need to buy a ticket, which is distributed near Kurofune-bashi Bridge (near Monzen-nakacho Station) on the day at 9.30am and 11.30am, with queues starting 30 minutes prior. The 30-minute boat ride costs ¥1,000 per person and it's only available on weekends from March 20 to April 7, 10am to 3pm. (More info here, in Japanese only.)
Along with the boat rides, the festival will also have street entertainment and food stalls selling local snacks like grilled clam skewers. Come evening, the blossoms along the river will be lit up from 5pm to 10pm.