On the 28th, the day the cherry blossoms in Tokyo were declared in full bloom, a large crowd of cherry blossom viewers flocked to the Meguro River in search of the spectacular view of the blossoms. The situation escalated to the point where police had to be called in to take measures to prevent overcrowding, such as setting up screens for privacy.
■Ueno Park is extremely crowded; people start reserving spots early in the morning On the 28th, the cherry blossoms in Tokyo reached full bloom three days earlier than usual. Cherry blossom viewers: “It’s hot.” “It’s so hot I took off my jacket. It’s the first spring breeze.” “The first spring breeze? That’s the wind.” “It’s the first spring breeze.” The warmth, comparable to mid-April, made for a perfect day for cherry blossom viewing.
Cherry blossom viewer: “(The name of the Akita dog is) Sakura-chan.” “(Q. Does she seem to be enjoying the cherry blossoms?) She’s tired from the crowds.” The daytime was so crowded that even the dog was tired, but if we go back in time a little… Before 9 a.m. on the 28th, most spots were already covered with blue tarpaulins. Some people had already started their parties. Some people had already run out of energy from reserving spots early in the morning… Cherry blossom viewer: “We started at 5 a.m. to secure a spot. We did our best not to lose.” Some people were frantically wiping the blue tarpaulins with rags. Cherry blossom viewer: “It rained (until dawn). We were walking around standing up, and it was a fierce competition.”
■Luxurious cherry blossom viewing with Peking duck and prosciutto At lunchtime, when the area was bustling with many people, everyone had finished their preparations and it was finally time for the cherry blossom viewing to begin. This group had prepared a beer server. Not only that, but a whole Peking duck. What came out was an entire leg of prosciutto. Cherry blossom viewer: “We wanted to have the most luxurious cherry blossom viewing of all. It was 10,000 yen per person, so the budget was 100,000 yen.” This is a group of colleagues from the same company, and it is their annual tradition to have a luxurious cherry blossom viewing party. The whole leg of prosciutto was well-received the first year, but… “We’ve seen it so many times already.” Unlike their friends who were quite used to it, some curious people came along.
A tourist from Spain said, “I’m Spanish. I’m from Spain. This cured ham is great.” The person who approached them was a tourist from Spain, a country famous for its cured ham. He gave them a demonstration of how to cut a whole leg of ham. A cherry blossom viewer said, “I learned a lot about the authentic way of cutting it.” After a while, everyone had gathered, and it was the moment they had been waiting for. “Cheers!!” “(Q. How does the beer taste?) It’s the best!”
■Young people also compose tanka poems A group of three friends who have been friends since their student days said… Cherry blossom viewer: “This is the first time I’ve ever done a cherry blossom viewing like this.” Inspired by cherry blossom viewing in the past, they composed tanka poems for each other. Cherry blossom viewer: “Cherry blossoms are falling, this moment spent with my best friend, I wish time would stop before they fall.” While some young people expressed their friendship through poetry, there was also an 80-year-old woman whose heart was filled with the hopes of a new romance.
Cherry blossom viewer (84): “Talking about romance. I’m looking for a boyfriend. I prefer older men, so maybe around 100 years old.” Foreign tourists also joined in the enjoyment of Japanese cherry blossom viewing, each in their own way… Canadian tourist: “Beautiful, this is how bonds are strengthened!”
■ “Blindfolds” over cherry blossoms in Nakameguro Another famous spot in Tokyo is Nakameguro. Every year, it is bustling with many cherry blossom viewers who come to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom along the river. Cherry blossom viewers: “It’s been sunny for the first time in a while, so it’s a nice day for a walk.” “I’m happy that I can drink from lunchtime.” The row of cherry trees stretches for about 4 kilometers. The charm of the Meguro River is that you can easily enjoy the cherry blossoms while strolling around. Cherry blossom viewers: “It’s nice. You can come here while taking a walk.” “There are all sorts of shops too.” But around Nakameguro Station, the closest station to the Meguro River… The pedestrian crossing just outside the station is so crowded that not everyone can cross in one go. Police officers are dispatched and desperately try to control the traffic. Last year, during the cherry blossom season, the number of people getting on and off at Nakameguro Station exceeded 2.35 million. The massive congestion in front of the station is now a “regular event” in spring, but it is a real pain for local residents. In response to this situation, Meguro Ward has launched a first-of-its-kind initiative.
They have installed banners to act as a “screen” on a bridge near the station, where congestion is most severe. The aim is to smooth the flow of people around the station and prevent accidents. A cherry blossom viewer said, “It’s a shame, but it’s so congested here that it becomes impossible to get through, so I guess it can’t be helped.” Nevertheless, cherry blossom viewers are overflowing onto the roadway. There were dangerous scenes where cars narrowly avoided collisions as they weaved their way through the crowd. On the 29th, the peak bloom rush is expected to continue in Nagoya and other parts of the Japanese archipelago. (From the broadcast on March 29, 2026) [TV Asahi NEWS]
