If you’re the sort of traveler who prefers to soak up a vibe rather than tick off a list of attractions, head to Tokyo’s Nakameguro neighborhood. Among Tokyo’s hipster crowd, Nakameguro is a cool place to live, but it’s equally cool to visit. It’s accessible from high-rise Shibuya and Shinjuku but has a completely different feel, with tree-lined residential streets and a riverside cherry-blossom tunnel that comes alive in spring. With eateries ranging from cute and quirky to sophisticated and fashionable, plus plenty of indie art galleries, there are plenty of things to do in Nakameguro.
The spring cherry-blossom season (late March to early April) is the best time to visit Nakameguro, when a roughly 0.6-mile (1-kilometer) stretch of the Meguro River is lined with pretty pale pink cherry blossoms, creating a sort of tunnel. Outside this season, mealtimes are the best time to visit Nakameguro. There are a plethora of places to eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and in-between snacks, and to drink in the evening.
Nakameguro is a compact neighborhood that’s easy to navigate on foot. The walkway beside the Meguro River invites leisurely ambling and wandering the streets in search of shops and cafés that pique your interest is good fun. There’s no need to drive a car to Nakameguro—few visitors to Tokyo need one—as Nakameguro Station on the Tokyo Metro’s Hibiya line serves the neighborhood. JR’s Ebisu Station is a little farther away but within walking distance.
The area alongside the Meguro River contains the best selection of shops and eateries, so it’s tempting to enjoy a cold drink at an outside table with a river view. However, don’t skip Nakameguro’s backstreets and the area around the station, as you’ll find some overlooked smaller businesses tucked away here. A vibrant collection of street art sits beneath the railway tracks—visiting here is an ideal way to experience Nakameguro’s artistic scene for free.