Japanese-style sakura sweets that no woman can resist

   As spring approaches, Japan is about to welcome its annual, dazzling cherry blossom season. Various regions along the Tobu Railway line, which covers Tokyo and the surrounding four prefectures, will launch the grand "Tobu Sakura Festival 2017." Especially not to be missed are the limited-edition sweets made with sakura as the main ingredient. Sakura-filled Japanese confections, sakura cream chocolate sandwich cookies, and more—these seasonally limited sakura sweets that combine beauty and deliciousness can be enjoyed while taking in the romantic sight of cherry blossoms, or make for unique and heartfelt gifts for family and friends.

   The areas along the Tobu Railway line are dotted with famous cherry blossom viewing spots. To allow visitors to fully enjoy the spectacular cherry blossoms, Tobu Railway will also launch a special "Sakura Season" website, introducing the best cherry blossom viewing spots, the blooming periods at each site, and even more thoughtfully compiling information on shops offering a variety of sakura sweets for easy access.

   In Japan, the traditional "hanami" (cherry blossom viewing) culture has been preserved. People customarily enjoy pre-prepared Japanese mochi and delicious bento meals while admiring the cherry blossoms, sharing the joys of spring with family and friends. The romantic cherry blossoms and the boundless spring scenery make this pink-hued promise an unforgettable experience.

Tokyo Solamachi Sakura Food Festival

   From Wednesday, March 1 to Sunday, April 9, 2017, the "Tokyo Solamachi Sakura Food Festival" will be held at Tokyo Solamachi, located at the foot of the world’s tallest tower, Tokyo Skytree. Tokyo Solamachi houses over 300 unique shops. During the festival, limited-edition sweets made with sakura as the main ingredient, as well as traditional Japanese mochi perfect for hanami, will offer your taste buds a whole new experience. Nearby is the famous sakura spot Ueno Park, recognized as one of Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots. Delicious sweets and blooming cherry blossoms complement each other beautifully, making your "Sakura Season" even more vibrant and wonderful.

   Facility Name: Tokyo Solamachi (Website: http://www.tokyo-solamachi.jp/chinese_s/)

   Location: Sumida City, Tokyo (about a 3-minute train ride from Asakusa Station)

   ※ Tokyo Solamachi is located in area ① on the map on page 5.

The perfect gift for family and friends—don’t miss Tobu Department Store’s sakura sweets

   At Tobu Department Store Ikebukuro, you’ll find a rich variety of sakura sweets. You can not only sample them on-site, but also purchase seasonally limited sweets and desserts to give as gifts to family and friends.

   Facility Name: Tobu Department Store Ikebukuro (Website: http://www.tobu-dept.jp.c.eh.hpcn.transer-cn.com/ikebukuro/)

   Location: Toshima City, Tokyo (about a 25-minute train ride from Asakusa Station)

   ※ Tobu Department Store Ikebukuro is located in area ② on the map on page 5.

Special website launched to introduce sakura viewing spots and sakura sweets along the Tobu Railway line

Tobu Railway will hold the "Tobu Sakura Festival 2017" to introduce foreign visitors to the beautiful cherry blossoms along its railway lines. With numerous sakura viewing spots along the Tobu Railway, a special website has been created specifically for international tourists. It provides information on the best sakura viewing spots, the blooming periods of cherry blossoms at each location, and details on sakura sweets that can be enjoyed as snacks during the trip or taken home as souvenirs. In addition, Tobu Railway plans to upload videos of cherry blossom scenery on the special website, showcasing the spectacular panoramic views of cherry blossoms in 360 degrees. These videos, shot at three famous sakura spots in the Kanto region—Tokyo’s Ueno Park, Koshigoe Gongendo Sakura Bank (Prefectural Gongendo Park), and Kawagoe’s Shin-Kawagoe River Sakura Avenue—capture the blooming cherry blossoms in full 360-degree panoramic views, bringing the vivid scenes to life as if you were truly there.  

   Special Website: http://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/cn/cp/sakura/

   Website Open Period: Wednesday, March 1 – Sunday, April 30, 2017

   ※ The 360-degree sakura scenery videos are expected to be available from late March to early April. The release schedule may be adjusted depending on the cherry blossom blooming conditions.

   ※ As shown on the map on page 5, Ueno Park is in area ①, Prefectural Gongendo Park is in area ③, Kawagoe’s Shin-Kawagoe River Sakura Avenue and Kako Uemon are in area ④, and the “CRAFT LOUNGE” at Nikko Kanaya Hotel is in area ⑤.

[Sakura Sweets Paired with Falling Blossoms: Recommended Sakura Viewing Spots Along the Tobu Railway Line]

   Tobu Railway is one of Japan’s major railway lines, with routes centered around Tokyo and covering the entire Kanto region. The railway line is home to numerous attractions, including the world’s tallest tower—Tokyo Skytree; the Yomeimon Gate of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Toshogu Shrine in Nikko, which has regained its former glory after a four-year renovation; and the Kawagoe area, which preserves the traditional "kura-zukuri" architecture. These sites attract visitors all year round.

   ※ For detailed information on opening hours and transportation to each attraction, please confirm via the following website.

   Mynewsdesk URL: goo.gl/W54xvV

   ※ For detailed information on the cherry blossoms and wisteria blooming during the same period, please confirm via the following website.

   Mynewsdesk URL: goo.gl/lXNyPd