Apr 1, 2019
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While not as famous as some of the other Tokyo sakura sightseeing spots, the Ooka River in Yokohama has an impressive row of cherry blossom trees planted along the river. The main row is between JR Sakuragicho Station and Keikyu Gumyoji Station, but there are some stragglers before and after. The distance is about 5 kilometers, and during the Sakura Festival, the entire walkway is lined with pink and white lanterns advertising the festival's sponsors. Under the lanterns, there are lots of food vendors. There's a huge variety, so you can find anything from fried spaghetti noodles to okonomiyaki to deep-fried potatoes. However, because it's pretty residential in the area, a lot of the locals come out making it difficult to walk. The sidewalk space is filled with the food stands and people waiting in line, and the streets are cleared whenever a car passes by. Plus, it was a rare sunny day this hanami season, so it was extra crowded! It makes the five-kilometer walk take double the time. The river looked beautiful with the weeping sakura trees. I think those are my favorite species of sakura. (I decided to try a deep fried baked potato for the first time. The mentai mayonnaise was so good!) The party doesn't stop in the day, if you're busy working. The lanterns light up and there are a few spotlights so you can enjoy the sights with a bit less people. It's a bit less crowded in the evening, but it's so much colder! I think I'd rather brave the crowds than deal with that wind and the cold. (In the evening, I tried Korean dakkalbi from a food stand. I like that there were a lot more international options available lately!) And what hanami would be complete without BYOB drinks? A nice rose matched the color of the blossoms. It didn't do much for keeping me warm, but it sure was tasty.