In the Tokyo spring, you’ll find that above you are tufts of pink clouds, and below you is a thick carpet of pink petals… can you imagine what this may be? Yes, it is Mother Nature’s gift; the season of cherry blossoms!

All of those trees that had been naked the rest of the year get gussied up when thousands of blossoms, called sakura, begin to bloom around the end of March to the beginning of April in Tokyo. A week later, you’ll find that the city has exploded in tones of pink.

To celebrate the season, there is a Japanese tradition that nearly everyone takes part in, and it’s called “ohanami”. This means “appreciating the flowers” and for it, people such as friends, lovers, families, and work colleagues get together to eat and drink underneath the blooms like a picnic. It becomes a huge gathering, where people sit atop sheets on the ground, drinking sake and eating traditional junk food like yakitori (grilled meat) and takoyaki (octopus dumplings) from the afternoon well into the night.

Everyone would be quick to agree that the sakura are a beautiful sight to be seen. But that is not the only reason for the ohanami tradition. It is because the sakura only bloom for a mere two weeks before they fall to the ground. It is this ephemeral quality that is respected and honored by the Japanese. The Ohanami tradition is a way to enjoy each other’s company, keeping in mind how precious the time is, just like the short sakura season. It is the same thinking that goes behind the popularity of limited items that go on sale at shops and convenience stores in Japan!

So now you may be thinking, “I want to check this out and join in too!” so allow me to let you in on the best spot to experience ohanami in Tokyo. Yoyogi Koen and Shiba Koen parks are very famous spots, but if you want to hang with the locals-and the most stylish and artistic people-of Tokyo, then there is only one place you should go: Meguro Canal in Nakameguro.

Nakameguro is very close to both Shibuya and Ebisu, but since it is outside of the Yamanote Train Line “loop”, it avoids the frenetic and harried pace of those areas. To do some Ohanami here, all you need is to head to the supermarket, convenience store, or one of the food booths called “yatai” to get some munchies and drinks and you’re set!

The daytime sakura are soothing as you watch them quiver in the breeze and fall into the canal. And at night the paper lanterns cast a beautiful glow onto the blossoms for an awe-inspiring sight.

There is a cool, LOHAS mentality in Nakameguro, and the area cafes, boutiques, restaurants and bars cater to its stylish denizens. You will be pressed to find many chain stores here, and in the case of stores that line the canal, most are independently run. The keywords here are “easy-going”, “ecological”, and “cozy”. My personal favorite select shop here is called “Carlife” and it has vintage and vintage-inspired clothes and accessories. If you need to warm up your face or hands on the go, head inside “Snobbish Babies” for its lauded hot tea and desserts. And finally, when the night is still long but it’s much too cold to stay outside, head straight for “Combine” where an eclectic mix of artists and friends from around the world gather for drinks and conversation.

There is no doubt that March and April are the best months to visit Tokyo, so come and experience letting the sakura petals magically flutter into the palm of your hand.

(To get to Nakameguro, take the Tokyu-Toyoko Line from Shibuya. It is the first express stop, or the second local stop after Daikanyama)

Moving Season!

In Japan, April is the month for starting school and new jobs so that means March is the season for moving house. It’s especially true in big cities like Tokyo and Osaka, where young people move into urban areas from the countryside to start college or new jobs. This means shopping malls and interior shops become alive with people looking for both new furniture and wardrobes to start their lives on the right path. The bigger shops sometimes have great “set” deals where one gets a 20% off deal just for buying their refrigerator, microwave, and washing machine at the same time. On top of this, you might score a great VIP service deal. In this busy season, the number of lifestyle goods like dishes, rugs, chairs and storage boxes goes way up, and this means you can get discounts. If you’re going to come to Tokyo in March, keep your eye out for these types of goods and deals!