As spring approaches, various regions across Japan are about to welcome their annual, dazzling cherry blossom season. Areas along the Tobu Railway line, which covers Tokyo and the surrounding four prefectures, will launch the grand "Tobu Sakura Festival 2017" centered around the theme of cherry blossoms. Among the highlights are limited-edition sweets made with cherry blossoms. Cherry blossom-filled Japanese confections, cherry blossom cream chocolate sandwich cookies, and other seasonal sakura desserts that combine beauty and taste can be enjoyed while taking in the romantic scenery of cherry blossoms, or given as unique, heartwarming gifts to 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 location, and conveniently compiling information on shops offering a variety of cherry blossom sweets for easy access.
In Japan, the traditional "cherry blossom viewing" culture has been preserved, where people enjoy sakura while savoring pre-prepared Japanese mochi sweets and delicious bento boxes, sharing the joy of spring with family and friends. With romantic cherry blossoms and the boundless beauty of spring, this pink-hued promise is sure to leave you with lifelong memories.
Tokyo Solamachi Cherry Blossom Food Festival
From Wednesday, March 1 to Sunday, April 9, 2017, the "Tokyo Solamachi Cherry Blossom Food Festival" will be held at Tokyo Solamachi, located at the foot of the world’s tallest tower, Tokyo Skytree. Tokyo Solamachi is home to over 300 unique shops. During the festival, limited-edition sweets made with cherry blossoms and traditional Japanese treats like mochi, perfect for enjoying while cherry blossom viewing, will offer your taste buds a whole new experience. Nearby, you’ll also find the famous Ueno Park, one of Japan’s top 100 cherry blossom viewing spots, where delicious sweets complement the breathtaking cherry blossoms, making your "Sakura Season" even more vibrant and beautiful.
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: Must-Try Sakura Sweets at Tobu Department Store
At Tobu Department Store Ikebukuro, you’ll find a rich variety of cherry blossom sweets. Not only can you sample them on-site, but you can also purchase seasonal sakura sweets as gifts for your loved ones.
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 Cherry Blossom Spots and 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 lines. As the railway line is home to numerous cherry blossom viewing spots, a special website has been created specifically for international tourists. It provides information on the best sakura spots, blooming periods, and cherry blossom sweets that can be enjoyed as snacks during the trip or taken home as souvenirs. Additionally, Tobu Railway plans to upload videos of cherry blossom scenery on the special website, showcasing stunning 360-degree panoramic views of the blossoms. These videos, filmed at three famous sakura spots in the Kanto region — Tokyo’s Ueno Park, Kazo Kenkunji Sakura Embankment (Prefectural Kenkunji Park), and Kawagoe’s New Kashiigawa Sakura Promenade — capture the blossoms in full bloom from all angles, bringing the vivid scenes to life as if you were truly there.
Special Website: http://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/cn/cp/sakura/
Website Availability: Wednesday, March 1 – Sunday, April 30, 2017
※ The 360-degree cherry blossom videos are expected to be released 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 Kenkunji Park is in Area ③, Kawagoe’s New Kashiigawa Sakura Promenade and Kako Uemon are in Area ④, and the “CRAFT LOUNGE” at Nikko Kanaya Hotel is in Area ⑤.
[Cherry Blossom Sweets Paired with Cherry Blossom Showers: 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 line passes 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 Kawagoe, known for its traditional "kura-zukuri" (warehouse-style) architecture — all of which attract visitors year-round.
※ For detailed information such as opening hours and transportation to each attraction, please check the following website.
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※ For detailed information on cherry blossoms and wisteria blooming during the same period, please check the following website.
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