Being a frequent visitor to Tokyo, I love the hustle and bustle of the city! From neon night lights to delicious food, there is endless fun in Tokyo. Even in spring, there are plenty of hanami (花見, flower viewing) spots such as Ueno Park and Shinjuku Gyoen. However, now and then I crave a quiet getaway and that’s when I head to my personal favourite destination for spring: Nagatoro (長瀞), a city in Saitama Prefecture – and as appetising as it sounds, please don’t mistake this for delicious cuts of tuna, chūtoro (中トロ) or ōtoro (大トロ).
Departing from Tokyo Station, the journey is a manageable 2-hour trip. Take the JR Takasaki Line from Tokyo Station and alight at Kumagaya Station before changing to the Chichibu Railway. Nagatoro is a small and scenic town located deep in the mountains of western Saitama Prefecture. It’s very popular amongst the locals and Tokyo day-trippers alike who are on the lookout for outdoor activities such as camping and whitewater rafting. During spring, the path along the main road is lined with pale pink, almost-white Somei-yoshino trees, which is one of the most common cherry trees found in Japan.
Upon arrival, enjoy a nice stroll through the small town and head towards the Hodosan Shrine (宝登山神社) which is located at the foot of the Hodo Mountain – a holy site where visitors gather to pray for protection against natural disasters. From this point on, put on your trekking shoes as you ascend the mountain to the Hodosan Ropeway, which leads to the Ume Hyakkaen (梅百花園). The trek up can be quite tiring, but it is definitely worth the view! The Hodosan Ropeway not only offers spectacular views of Hodosan but has an endearing backstory as well – the two carriages are named Bambi (ばんび) and Monkey (もんきー) to honour the wild deer and monkeys living in the mountains.
Near the top of Hodosan is the Ume Hyakkaen, which translates to “100-plum flower garden”. The most commonly associated flower in spring is the sakura, however, at this park, the spotlight is shone on the ume flower. These flowers come in a variety of colours ranging from different shades of pink to yellow. The ume flowers are a joy to look at and the view is simply amazing. Fun fact: if you have trouble differentiating between ume and sakura flowers, let your nose do a sniff test! Ume flowers have a stronger, sweet floral aroma as compared to the sakura which has a light, barely-there fragrance. Ume Hyakkaen may be crowded in spring as many locals love to visit this garden due to its close proximity to the city.
One thing you should definitely try while visiting in spring is strawberry picking! It is a common rule for picking farms to limit your “harvest” to the amount that you can eat within the facility, so pick and eat as much as you desire, since you won’t be allowed to bring any home. They may even offer condensed milk to be drizzled on the strawberries, which is how the Japanese people like to enjoy this fruit. The best part is getting to know the various species of strawberries by their unique shape, size, and taste – every bite is a juicy and sweet surprise.
Japan is truly one of the most beautiful places that one can visit in the springtime. If enjoying the gentle scents of sakura and ume flowers, partaking in fruit picking, and being away from the bustling city is your idea of a dream spring break, don’t leave Nagatoro out of your next Tokyo trip!
Header image credit: Julia Yee
