- Luxury Apartments in Tokyo
- MORI LIVING Diary
- Welcoming Spring with Outdoor Festivals
Welcoming Spring with Outdoor Festivals
April 14, 2015
There are many wonderful times of year in Tokyo, but spring has got to be one of the best. The days become longer, the temperatures rise, and there are usually plenty of days with clear, blue skies and warm sun. And of course, the most beautiful time of spring in Japan is cherry blossom season. I love the Japanese tradition of hanami, when everyone heads outside to enjoy some fresh air and greet the spring under the cherry trees.
Cherry blossom viewing parties are wonderful when the weather cooperates, but usually have to be called off in the case of rain. However, as I discovered this year, that is not the case of the spring festivals held at Roppongi Hills and ARK Hills. These festivals ran for three days, and even though I happened to go on a day that was overcast and rainy, it was still thoroughly enjoyable, thanks to the covered festival venues of Roppongi Hills Arena and ARK Karajan Place.
The festivals featured lots of food stalls, outdoor seating, live music performances, and interactive workshops. I was impressed by the variety and quality of the food available, which was offered by the restaurants inside the buildings. At Roppongi Hills I had wagyu steak and bagna cauda, which came with an assortment of colorful root vegetables, including carrots cut into cute cherry blossom shapes. As I sat on down to eat near one of the traditional red Japanese umbrellas that were dotted throughout the space, I could even get a glimpse of the blooming cherry trees in Mohri Garden. It was the best possible situation on a rainy spring day cherry blossoms, delicious food, and a dry spot outside in which to eat and ponder the serene but playful blossoms!
Kelly