My friend left Tokyo early in the morning and with my dad flying in tomorrow, this meant I’d spend the day alone in Tokyo. With temperatures set to peak at a relatively balmy 61 degrees Fahrenheit (17 Celsius), I headed to Sumida Park, which is located in the northern part of Tokyo next to the Skytree Tower.
The blossoms were in complete full bloom within the park itself, and there was even an elderly man playing the Shamisen, a type of Japanese stringed instrument used to play folk songs.
Afterwards I headed to the riverside, which was flanked by almost fully blossomed cherry trees.
The good weather seemed to lift everyone’s spirits, and I noticed the usually quiet atmosphere filled with joyous laughter from locals eating and drinking while enjoying Hanami.
I then headed to Chinzanso Garden, located along the Kanda River, which is relatively off the typical tourist trail.
The garden itself was nothing to special, as it had just a handful of cherry trees, but the Kanda River was flanked by two sets of fully bloomed trees.
The best part was the absence of tourists and the massive crowds that filled Tokyo’s more famous attractions.
Afterwards I headed back to the hotel, as I didn’t bring a jacket and the temperature does drop once the sun starts setting. Overall, my stroll reminded me of a couple scenes from the movie Lost In Translation, and was a nice change of pace from frantically rushing from place to place.
