Enjoy the cherry blossoms of Tokyo with elegance♪ View cherry blossoms while riding in comfort
The cherry blossom viewing season is here again! The best time to view cherry blossoms in Tokyo is usually from the end of March to the beginning of April. If you want to view the cherry blossoms with elegance and without the hassle of trying to secure a place to sit and without the crowds, why not grab a ride!? You can view the cherry blossoms from the sky on a helicopter or even from the river on a nighttime cherry blossom viewing boat. We’ll introduce you to popular cherry blossom viewing styles that allow you to enjoy the cherry blossoms and a lot more. (Top photo: SKYBUS Tokyo)
A bird’s eye view of a Tokyo blooming with cherry blossoms from a helicopter!
Enjoy a view of the buildings of the city, the blooming cherry blossoms and the gleaming of Tokyo Bay, all from a bird’s eye view.
The landscape of a Tokyo filled with blooming cherry blossoms is something that you can only see during this time of the year. If you want to go all out and indulge, we recommend a scenic flight on a helicopter. On the Tokyo Day Prestige Course from Nihon Flight Safety Company, you can enjoy an approximately 22 minute private helicopter “cruise” for just two people.
You can also add an optional Flight Commemoration DVD Service that includes a video recording and commemorative photo in the air.
This course will take you over the Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Station and other popular spots. That by itself is sure to satisfy, but in addition, because you get to see colorful and spectacular cherry blossom viewing spots, this is a time of year so ideal for scenic flights, you just can’t pass the opportunity up.
Among the many cherry blossom spots that dot the landscape below, there are two highlights. One is the row of cherry blossoms that color approximately 1km of the Sumida River riverbanks pink between Azumabashi Bridge and Sakurabashi Bridge. The other is the roughly 1000 cherry blossom trees that grow in Ueno Park. The cherry blossoms along the Sumida River in particular are a sight to see paired with the Tokyo Skytree.
Once you view this vast urban panorama filled with the colors of spring with someone you love, it will be a memory of a lifetime.
Nihon Flight Safety Co., Ltd.
Tokyo Day Prestige Course
Tel: 03-3521-5478 Boarding location: Tokyo Heliport, 4-7-44 Shinkiba, Koto-ku, Tokyo Season: Year round (closed over the year end and New Year’s holidays) Hours: 13:00 - Sunset Price: 2 person private flight - 52,000 yen (9,000 yen per each additional person)
http://flysafety.net/
Immerse yourself in the night views of the Sumida River in Spring on a relaxing yozakurabune (nighttime cherry blossom boat)
The view of the cherry blossoms during the day under blue skies is beautiful, but the view of cherry blossoms at night that seem to blend into the night landscape after the sun goes down is something else. We highly recommend the yozakurabune (nighttime cherry blossom viewing boat) operated by TOKYO CRUISE Suijo Bus, only during the cherry blossom season.
A cruising event where you can casually enjoy boating parties, a tradition dating back to the Edo period. You can buy locally brewed Sumida River beer as well as cherry blossom rice crackers.
During the day, a Cherry Blossom Viewing Boat operates from Asakusa to Hinode Pier (One hour, one way, 760 yen). Enjoy the beautiful spring sights on both riverbanks from the middle of the Sumida River.
The boat sets sail at dusk and cruises down the Sumida River through a tunnel of cherry blossoms. You can view Sumida Park, a cherry blossom viewing location famous since the Edo period as the Bokutei Senbonzakura (one thousand cherry blossoms along the Sumida River riverbank), as well as recently popular spots such as the cherry blossoms near the Chuo Ohashi Bridge, all from the comfort of a boat. The 45 minute cruise continuously provides sights to see including the beautiful views of the cherry blossoms that seem to float in the twilight, the sparkle of the lights of the yakatabune reflecting of the surface of the water, and the Tokyo Skytree lit up at night. In addition, furisode-san (kimono clad entertainers) that provide entertainment at parties in Akasaka also board the boat and provide entertainment on board!
The Furisode-san entertainers of Asakusa provide party entertainment in their graceful furisode kimono attire. There is time after their dances to take commemorative photos
If you feel like savoring the feel of an Edo boating party, you could also buy drinks (700 yen per bottle) from the Furisode-san and have her serve you your drink. The Horoyoi (slightly tipsy) Set that includes special hors d’oeuvres from Asakusa Imahan, a long-established sukiyaki restaurant, and one drink (2,500 yen, includes boarding fee) is especially popular so be sure to reserve one online as early as possible.
TOKYO CRUISE Suijo Bus
Yozakurabune
Tel: 0120-977-311 Boarding location: Azumabashi Bridge, Asakusa, 1-1-1 Hanakawado, Taito-ku, Tokyo Season: March 23 - April 11, 2013 Hours: 17:40 - 19:00 (seasons and times may change depending on the blooming of the cherry blossoms) Fee: 1,200 yen for boarding only, 2,500 yen for the Horoyoi Set (reservations accepted online starting at two people)
http://www.suijobus.co.jp/
You can almost touch the cherry blossoms! Cherry blossom viewing on an open-top bus
Ride around popular Tokyo areas in an open-top bus with SKYBUS Tokyo. The roughly 50 minute Imperial Palace - Ginza - Marunouchi Course becomes an even more lively cherry blossom viewing course in the spring.
Among the various cherry blossom spots like those near Chidorigafuchi Park and the National Theatre, as well as Shiomizaka next to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the highlight of the course is Daikancho Avenue, lined with cherry blossom trees. Right above you on the second floor seats of the bus, which are roughly the same height as the pedestrian traffic lights, are the cherry blossoms on their branches, a beautiful sight that will take your breath away! When the wind blows, cherry blossom petals drift into the bus, creating an even more beautiful atmosphere.
Entering into a tunnel of hill cherries along Daikancho Avenue! You can almost reach out and touch the pink petals that blanket the sky.
The fully open-top second floor is extremely liberating! Only tickets for seats on the second floor are sold allowing every passenger to enjoy a 360-degree panorama view.
In addition to the cherry blossoms, there are a lot of other sights to see including the National Diet Building, the red brick building of the Ministry of Justice - an Important Cultural Property - as well as Sakuradamon Gate, the streetscape of Ginza and more. Because you can’t get off during the course, if you want to go see an area that you like on your own time, why not find a spot on the SKYBUS and then go visit it after you get off?
SKYBUS Tokyo
Imperial Palace - Ginza - Marunouchi Course
Tel: 03-3215-0008 Boarding location: 1F Mitsubishi Building, 2-5-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Season: Year round (unless noted otherwise) Hours 9:00 - 18:00 (Ticket counter) Fare: Adults 1,500 yen, children 700 yen
http://skybus.jp/
Enjoy a relaxing view of cherry blossom tunnels and falling petals on a horse-drawn carriage
If you want to enjoy a scenery filled with flowers in a tranquil setting, head over to the cherry blossom festival at JRA Bajikouen. This was the venue for the equestrian events during the 18th Olympic Games in Tokyo. It is now a JRA (Japan Racing Association) facility with around 100 horses being reared here.
The carriage ride is one lap and takes around 5 minutes. Check the JRA Bajikouen website around the middle of March when times and locations will be posted!
The grounds cover an area of over 18ha where there are paddocks, a main arena, glass arena and more. In the spring, it becomes a famous cherry blossom viewing spot with roughly 500 trees!
In the paddocks, the sight of a horse galloping in front of a background of cherry blossoms in full bloom is breathtaking.
We recommend the horse-drawn carriage ride that they hold during the cherry blossom festival every year. Enjoy a slow and leisurely lap on the carriage around the grounds with various cherry blossoms in bloom including Somei Yoshino, Gosho cherry blossoms and mountain cherry blossoms. You will undoubtedly be entranced by the sight of the pink petals gently falling to the ground. There are also an extensive array of other attraction such as horseback riding experiences, pony shows, and a lot more for an entire day of fun.
This year’s cherry blossom festival will be held on March 30th and 31st. Save the date and come visit!
12th JRA Bajikouen Cherry Blossom Festival
Horse-drawn Carriage Ride
Tel: 03-3429-5101 Location: 2-1-1 Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo Dates: March 30 and 31, 2013 Facility hours: 9:00 - 17:00 Fee: Free
http://www.jra.go.jp/bajikouen/index.html
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