Tokyo's best sakura spots: 6-10

From amidst a sakura siege…

180 trees form a delicate canopy across the road, many of them at least 60 years old (the road opened in 1956). In fact, so voluminous and aged have these trees become that they’re causing the local council problems, wreaking havoc between the increasingly uneven and cracked paving stones. Contrary to the last, the local citizens celebrate the trees as much for their destructive tendencies as for their beauty, and – come full bloom – you can guarantee a cheeky party pretty much any night of the week. Crowds guaranteed.

Getting there: Five minutes’ walk from Fuchu Station (Keio line)

From the rolling Sumida River…

Harumiya run pleasure boats – yakatabune – furnished with heated kotatsu tables and an observation deck; all in all a rather more luxurious way to get your cherry blossom fix. The Hanami Noriai Yakatabune route takes you on a two and a half hour cruise up the Sumida River, past Sumida Park (a notable flowery spot), to the Sakura Bridge area and back. At least one member of the crew speaks serviceable English, and the whole caboodle comes served with a fairly spectacular hanami meal – expect sashimi, sake, and enough beer to sink a sakura viewing ship.

For departure times, prices and reservations, call 03 3644 1344

From Tokyo’s oldest boathouse…

Tokyo’s first boathouse opened in 1918, funds coming (in part) from Mayor Kiyoshi Furukawa’s own pocket. Rent yourself a vessel and get an eyeful of the blossoms lining Sotobori Dori and the ruins of Edo Castle’s outer moat. Drop by the Canal Café, located on the dock itself, and grab a hanami snack before you board.

Canal Café and rowing boat hire, 500 yen for 30 minutes. 11.30am-4pm. 1-9 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo (03 3260 8068)

From beneath Tokyo’s most spectacular trees (highly recommended)…

Chidorigafuchi is famous for its spectacular sakura, and you can feast your eyes on around 200 somei-yoshino and yama-zakura cherry blossoms. Looking up from the boat at the flowering branches as they reach out over the moat is one of Tokyo’s sakura season must-dos.

Chidorigafuchi Boathouse, 800 yen for 30 minutes. Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-5.30pm. Sanbancho, Kudan-minami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (03 3234 1948)

Riding a white swan…

The spectacular Inokashira Park, stretching across both Musashino and Mitaka, was planned and opened as Tokyo’s first suburban park in 1913. At the park’s centre is Inokashira Pond, with a circumference of about 1,500 metres, surrounded by around 250 somei-yoshino, oshima-zakura and fugenzo cherry blossom trees. The park itself is home to around 500 sakura, a beautiful sight in full bloom. A great way to see the trees is from the water – hire yourself a swan-styled paddle boat and expend far too much energy forging your way to a choice viewing spot.

Inokashira Park map and opening times