Enjoy the atmosphere of the Edo period with flower rafts and Japanese boats, and the cherry blossoms of Kawagoe

This spot, with its beautiful 500-meter row of cherry blossom trees and rape blossoms along the Shingashi River, is especially recommended a few days after full bloom, when cherry blossom petals float all over the river as flower rafts. Hikawa Bridge behind Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine is a popular photo spot, but every year I walk along the riverside promenade, searching for a place where I can take pictures of cherry blossoms, rape blossoms, and Japanese boats all at once. For about 300 years until the 1920s, numerous boats carrying people and goods traveled back and forth on this river that flows between Kawagoe and Tokyo. I was surprised to hear that an old man I know actually rowed this boat from Kawagoe to Tokyo as a job, transporting goods to sell there! I spent the whole time taking photos of the boat, but of course it's possible to board it. It seems that several boats travel up and down the river about every 5 to 10 minutes. Cherry blossom viewing time: late March to early April Access: 20 minutes on foot from Hon-Kawagoe Station Boat ride fee: 600 yen (10am-4pm on the day of the event) #cherry blossoms #sakura2024