Walking along Sloping Streets and Rows of Blooming Cherry Trees and among the Greenery of Parks in Spring

Cherry blossoms are very familiar to Japanese people. When cherry trees start to bloom, it is the time of year when the winter cold melts away and trees and shrubs sprout fresh new leaves, making it ideal for taking a leisurely stroll. In this issue, we will describe the Kamuro-zaka Slope area, where you can almost hear the footsteps of spring while enjoying sloping streets and rows of blooming cherry trees.

Let’s start from the west exit of Gotanda Station. If you go out the station, turn right, and walk south down Sakurada-dori Avenue toward Togoshi, you will reach Gotanda-ohashi Bridge, which crosses over Meguro-gawa River. Cross the bridge, turn right, and proceed toward Meguro for a while. If you walk along Meguro-gawa River, you will be able to spot some cherry blossoms. Turn left when you see the overpass of the Meguro Line. If you cross over to the other side of Yamate-dori Avenue and walk a little bit toward Nakameguro, you will reach Kamurozaka-shita Intersection. This is where Kamurozaka-dori Avenue begins.

With cherry trees on both sides of the slope, their branches stretch towards each other during cherry blossom season to form a tunnel-like path. It is one of the most popular spots in the city for viewing cherry blossoms. If you proceed along the slope, you will see Kamurozaka Park along the way on the left-hand side. When you reach the top of the slope, turn right at the intersection. If you proceed down along Ishiko-zaka Slope, you will reach the east gate of Rinshi no Mori Park.

Enter the gate to Rinshi no Mori Park. It is a relaxing spot that people from not only the neighborhood but also distant areas visit. In the park, there are various sections, such as a day camp area, an adventure plaza with play equipment, a pond where visitors can observe nature (e.g., tadpoles and dragonflies), and a grassy plaza area, so that visitors can enjoy their time in the park in their own way. Rich in natural greenery, the park is a treasure house for the wild birds and insects that gather there. In late March, the park is filled with cherry blossoms followed by fresh young greenery in May. This park stretches 700 meters in an east-west direction and 250 meters in a north-south direction, making the park long and narrow. It takes approximately 45 minutes to stroll along the circumference of the park.

The Kamuro-zaka Slope area has a lot of attractive scenery. Why not use cherry blossom season as an excuse to step out and take a leisurely stroll?

Meguro-gawa River:
This river runs about eight kilometers, flowing through the cities of Setagaya, Meguro, and Shinagawa and eventually into Tokyo Bay. With rows of beautiful cherry trees on both sides of the river, branches of cherry blossoms in full bloom seem to cover the river every year from late March through early April.