A Guide to Nakameguro - Tokyo’s Center of Cool 🌸🏙️
The Sophisticated Side of the City ✨
Centered around the Meguro River and within walking distance of the trendy districts of Daikanyama and Ebisu, Nakameguro holds its own in the sophistication stakes. The area is home to a range of cool cafes and restaurants, hip interior and accessory shops, and the Nakameguro Koukashita—700 meters of bars and stores anchored by the uber-modern bookstore Nakameguro Tsutaya Books. Nakameguro is a bustling bastion of cool throughout the year, but you'll find the crowds swell in late March and early April when the densely packed riverside cherry trees bud and blossom, creating an ultra-photogenic tunnel of pink.
Cherry Blossom 🌸
At the end of March through early April, the cherry tree-lined Meguro River that slices through Nakameguro draws huge crowds buzzing with cherry blossom enthusiasm. The connecting trees on both sides of the river touch branches, creating a tunnel flanked by small stalls selling snacks and refreshing beers. Finding a quiet spot can be a challenge, especially at night when the trees are lit up. One way to avoid the crowds is to take a daytime or nighttime “Hanami (Flower Viewing) Cruise” that pushes off from Tennozu Isle’s Yamatsu Pier and travels to the area. While the cherry blossoms might be short-lived, the trees become a fresh, verdant green, offering you some well-needed shade from the intense summer heat.
Nakameguro’s Starbucks Reserve ® Roastery Tokyo ☕🌿
Nakameguro’s Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Tokyo is one of only six Starbucks roasteries in the world. The building, designed by Kengo Kuma, contains a roasting factory, cocktail bar, tea floor, bakery, and cafe. The outdoor terrace is the perfect spot for viewing the cherry blossoms.
