Written by Carey Finn
Researched by Hitomi Kuroda
There are lots of different ways to enjoy the cherry blossoms — including basic blue tarps on the grass, spring day trips out of Tokyo, and sparkling-wine-fuelled river cruises. The last one is tempting, but is it purely aspirational? How much does such a fancy hanami experience cost?
Billed as “Tokyo’s most iconic cherry blossom viewing spot”, the Meguro River Cherry Blossom CHANDON Cruise is something of a spring institution.
What happens on the sakura cruise?
It’s a party on the river.
You board a private cruiser, glasses of CHANDON are handed out, and you sail through a canopy of pink (the “Sakura Tunnel”), waving to the regular folk on the riverbanks. You take all the photos. You hope to remember the experience, amidst all the alcohol.
Incidentally, the Meguro River is one of the most popular spots for cherry blossom viewing in the city.
How much is a sakura cruise?
The Meguro River Cherry Blossom CHANDON Cruise isn’t cheap, but if you are in a group, it isn’t actually the most expensive thing to do in Tokyo, either. You’re looking at ¥110,000 for 1-5 people — okay, yes, that is a steep price tag, but hear us out:
If you have a group of 5, the price works out to ¥22,000 per person, which is actually around what you would pay for some of the go-kart experiences during peak season, a guided city tour, or an omakase meal. So if this is your one big trip to Japan and you want to go all out, it might be worth considering. You can also add a sixth person for an additional ¥22,000.
Fun fact: international visitors make up just under half of the cruise passengers.
What’s included?
The sakura cruise package includes the following:
- 90-minute cruise along the river (private boat)
- Finger food
- 1 bottle of CHANDON Rosé shared between 2 passengers — pink drinks, because sakura
- All-you-can-drink white wine, beer, and soft drinks
What else to know
This year, the sakura cruise launches on March 20, and will run until April 12. Check the cherry blossom forecast for the best dates.
There are five cruises per day, running between 10 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. The boat leaves from Lounge CRIB, near Hinode Station. You can find more info on the official website.
There are also cheaper river cruises in spring, like this traditional yakatabune cruise, but they book up fast. Keep an eye on our event listings for more.
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. This is not paid content!
