The Tokyo streetcar network used to cover the metropolis, until the subway took over. But there are still Tokyo trams. And one line, in particular, is worth the ride for curious tourists – the Tokyo Sakura tram, which runs in northwestern Tokyo.
The Sakura Tram is no mere generic light commuter railway. This Tokyo tramway takes you back in time, to the Showa Shitamachi (downtown neighborhoods) of Tora-san (a famous film character from the 1960s-early 1990s).
Read on to find out how to get the most out of this unique experience, which stations the Tokyo Sakura tram stops at, how to ride the trains, and where to find it.
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Historical Background of the Sakura Tram
There used to be 41 tram lines in Tokyo, but now only the Sakura Tram and another line in Setagaya are left.
The oldest part of the line was built in 1913, and in the 1960s, when the trams in Tokyo were being shut down, opposition from the residents was so strong that it merged with a couple of other lines to get its current route.
The line runs on a network of rails with a 1,372 mm width, known as the Scotch Gauge, but today only used in Japan (apart from the Tokyo tram lines, also by the tram in Hakodate and the Keio line).
The tram runs on different types of rolling stock. A fun detail is that you can see when the cars were built from their liveries (color and pattern):
- The 8500 series trams were built between 1990 and 1993. The 8500 series are white and green.
- The 8800 series by Alna Sharyo in 2009 and 2010. The oldest 8800 series are rose red, while the younger cars – introduced between 2009 and 2010 – are orange, violet, and yellow.
- The angular 8900 series (also built by Alna Sahryo) were introduced between 2015 and 2016. The oldest 8900 cars are orange, and the following cars are blue or rose-colored, with the final delivery in 2016 yellow.
- The 7700 series are re-built original cars. The 7700 series cars built during 2016 are green or blue, but those built during 2017 are maroon (or purple).
- If you are lucky, you can spot the retro-designed 9000 series cars, delivered in 2009. There are only two of them, red and blue.
Sakura Tram Route
The Tokyo Sakura tram runs in the northwestern part of the Tokyo 23 wards. The line starts at Minowabashi Station (close to Ueno) and ends at Waseda Station (Toden) near Shinjuku. it mostly runs through residential areas, from the ‘mansion’ complexes in Arakawa through areas of private houses and gardens, to the luxury condominiums around Waseda University.
The route is 12.2 km (7.5 miles) in length, and there are 30 stations along the line. Total journey time (if you travel from one end to the other) takes about 50 minutes.
If you ever wanted to get up close and personal with the Tokyoites, taking the Sakura Tram on the Toden Arakawa Line is one of the best ways you will find without intruding on their privacy.
One of the main reasons to travel the Sakura tram are the seasonal flowers along the route and at various stops along the way. However, there are also plenty of other attractions and experiences to enjoy at various stops along the route which give you a glimpse into what Tokyo was like in years gone by.
Flower Viewing on the Tokyo Sakura Tram
Officially, it is the Toden Arakawa Line, but there are so many places to watch the cherry blossoms along the route that the name “Sakura Tram” stuck. Even the the station numbers are the shape and color of cherry blossoms.
In addition to cherry blossoms, the Tokyo Sakura Tram is also famous for roses. Hydrangeas are another stunning flower you will get to see from the Toden Arakawa line.
Cherry Blossoms
The Tokyo Sakura Tram connects several places that are famous for cherry blossom viewing, but you will also find cherry blossoms along the route, including in private gardens, small though they are.
The most notable spot to view cherry blossoms along the Toden Arakawa Line is at Asukayama Park, which is easily accessible from Ojiekimae Station (Station 16). The park was one of the new capital’s first public parks, established by Yoshimune Tokugawa in the early 18th century. He had planted almost 1,300 cherry trees and today there are still more than 600 trees left. If you want to get an interesting perspective on the sheer number of cherry trees in the park, go up to the free observatory on the 17th floor of the nearby Hokutopia building.
Another brilliant spot to enjoy the cherry blossoms is along the Kanda River. Get off the Sakura Tram at Station 29 (Omokagebashi Station) which is right beside the cherry tree lined Omokage Bashi (bridge). Cherry trees line both sides of the river between Omokage Bridge and east to Edogawa Bridge.
Another good spot to view cherry blossoms along the line (that will also be less congested) is Arakawa Nature Park, which is a short walk from Arakawa-Nichome Station.
Roses
Roses bloom in Tokyo in Spring (from around mid-May to early June) and Autumn/Fall (between October and November). One of the best places to view roses along the track is from Minowabashi Station (Station 1 on the line) to Machiya-Ekimae Station (Station 6):
- There are 140 different types of roses planted along the line between these stations
- Minowabashi Station is often described as more of a rose garden than a station
- There are lots of roses on the walk from Arakawa-Nichome Station (Station 4) to the nearby Arakawa Nature Park.
- Make sure you check out the beautiful rose garden beds at Machiya Station.
Another excellent spot for viewing roses is along the tram line between Arakarawa-Yūenchinae Station (Station 12) and Arakawa-Shakomae Station. There is also a stunning rose-lined path from Station 12 to the nearby Arakawa Amusement Park.
The third major section for viewing roses is between station 23 (Otsuka-ekimae Station) and station 24 (Mukohara Station) which is known as Otsuka Rose Street. The roses in this section are known for their density (over 1,000 rose bushes) and vibrant colors. The very popular Otsuka Rose Festival is held in May and October.
Hydrangeas
One of the best spots to see hydrangeas in bloom in Tokyo is easily accessible from the Tokyo Sakura tram. From Oji-Ekimae Station (Station 16) walk to Asukayama Park and stroll along Hydrangea Road for a stunning display of hydrangeas when they are in season (from mid-June to early July).
Autumn/Fall Colors
At various places along the Toden Arakawa line, you can also experience beautiful fall colors.
Other Sights, Attractions and Experiences Along the Route
There are no stand-out, must see attractions along the Toden Arakawa line, but there are lots of fun experiences which give you a great insight into a less-touristy part of Tokyo. Here are just some of the things to enjoy when riding the Sakura tram (along with the station to get off at).
Station 1 – Minowabashi Station
Minowabashi Station is most well known for its roses. However, make sure you also visit Joyful Minowa Shopping Street, a traditional covered arcade with a retro Japanese vibe which developed alongside the Oji tramway in the early 1900s.
It offers a variety of shopping and food options including fresh produce, snacks and street food, clothing, and household items, providing a great way to experience local daily life and culture.
Station 4 – Arakawa-Nichome Station
Arakawa Nature Park is a one-minute walk from Arakawa-Nichome Station. It offers a large pond (called the Swan Pond), well-maintained gardens with season flowers, walking paths and recreational facilities such as playgrounds, tennis courts and a baseball field. It’s an excellent spot for relaxation and to experience a taste of local life.
Station 12 – Arakawa-Yūenchinae Station
Arakawa Amusement Park is a five-minute walk from Arakawa-Yūenchinae Station. It’s an old-school amusement park that was recently renovated and reopened in 2022.
It best suits families with young children and features rides such as a Ferris wheel, sky-cycles, merry-go-rounds, a small family coaster, and a ride-on train that goes around the park. There is also a petting zoo. There are various food options including a cafe in an old tram.
Station 13 – Arakawa-Shakomae Station
Beside Arakawa-Shakomae Station is Toden Omoide Hiroba (also known as Toden Memorial Square). It’s an open-air exhibit featuring two vintage tram cars (from 1954 and 1962). There’s a mock driver’s cab with an interactive simulation that allow visitors to experience what it’s like to drive a tram, dioramas, display cases with historical artifacts, and more.
Station 16 – Oji-Ekimae Station
Oji-Ekimae Station has the largest amount of attractions and experiences clustered together of all the station along the Toden Arakawa Line.
Near Ojiekimae Station, visitors can explore Nanushinotaki Park with its serene waterfall and walking trails, the Oji Inari Shrine, famous for its fox statues, as well as the separate Oji Shrine. The Banknote and Postage Stamp Museum features rare exhibits of Japanese currency and stamps. For panoramic city views, the Hokutopia Observatory is a worthwhile visit, particularly during cherry blossom when you can enjoy a wonderful perspective of the cherry blossoms in bloom at Asukayama Park.
Additionally, check out Ougiya, known for its Atsuyaki Tamago (thick, rolled omelet) made with a secret dashi recipe and a history dating back to 1648.
Oji-Ekimae Station is also of the two main entry points to Asukayama Station. Use this entry for the Asuka Park Rail and the Hydrangea Road in particular.
Station 17 – Asukayama Station
Asukayama Station is the other major entry point to Asukayama Park. I’ve already mentioned two of the main reasons to visit Asukayama Park, the cherry blossoms and hydrangeas, but the park has a lot more to offer.
Year round the park is a great spot to relax and unwind. The park has a monorail, Asuka Park Rail, which is the shortest in Japan at 48 meters. It’s a free, two-minute ride, and makes navigating the park’s hilly terrain easy and enjoyable for all visitors.
The park also features three museums (the Paper Museum, Kita City Asukayama Museum and Shibusawa Memorial Museum), a historical tram and a steam engine, and a children’s playground. Enter via Asukayama Station if you are interested in visiting the museums first.
Station 21 – Koshinzuka Station
Sweets Shop Ippukutei is a traditional Japanese confectionery located on the platform of Koshinzuka Station on the Toden Arakawa Line.
It offers handmade sweets like ohagi (an oval-shaped ball of rice surrounded with various sweet toppings such as sweet red bean paste), anmitsu, and tokoroten, as well as savoury options like yakisoba.
Make sure you take a stroll down Old Nakasendo/Sugamo Jizodori Shopping Street that starts near the station. The street dates back to the Edo era where it was a popular spot on the Nakasendo highway. The 800 metre long street is often called “Harajuku for old ladies” and is a well-known shopping area in Tokyo.
Sugamo Jizodori is lined with over 200 shops offering traditional goods, clothing, and food items aimed at elderly customers. Check out the restaurants as well as the traditional sweets and dessert shops including tasting Shio Daifuku at Mizuno. Along the street, you’ll see shops selling red clothing including the infamous red underwear, traditional sweets, and health-related products.
At the far end of the street (from Koshinkuka Station) is Shinshoji Temple. A few minutes closer to the station is Koganji Temple, where there is a statue thought to aid with aches, illnesses and ailments.
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Station 23 – Otsuka-Ekimae Station
Onigiri Bongo is a three-minute walk from Otsuka-Ekimae Station. Visit Onigiri Bongo for its delicious, freshly made onigiri with 55 different fillings using high-quality ingredients like Niigata Koshihikari rice.
The restaurant has 64 years of history and offers a unique experience where visitors can watch their food being prepared. It’s an excellent spot to enjoy a traditional Japanese snack in Tokyo. There is a small (10-seat) sit down area at the counter and you can also do takeway.
The downside is that depending on when you go, you may have a long wait. If you get lucky, the wait time could be about 15 minutes, but other reviews have suggested a two to four hour wait.
Station 25 – Higashi-Ikebukuro-Yonchome Station
Gokokuji, a Buddhist temple established in 1681, is about a ten-minute walk from Higashi-Ikebukuro-Yonchome Station. It has survived earthquakes and air raids, making it one of the oldest surviving Buddhist temples in Tokyo.
The grounds feature a number of historical structures and statues, tranquil grounds and gardens, and a cemetery with graves of notable historical people including a former prime minister.
Station 27 – Kishibojimmae Station
Kishimojin Temple is a three-minute walk from Kishibojimmae Station. The temple is dedicated to Kishimojin, a deity known for protecting children.
The temple was established in the late 16th century, and features some 400-year-old trees on the approach to the temple as well as a large Gingko tree in the temple grounds thought to be about 700 years old. The temple complex also includes the Takeyoshi Inari shrine, known for its picturesque red torii gates.
Try the osen dango (sweet dumplings) if you are visiting on the weekend.
Station 30 – Waseda Station (Toden)
Higo-Hosokawa Garden is a five-minute walk across the Kanda River from Waseda Station, while Ana-Hachimangu Shrine is a ten-minute walk south of Waseda Station (Toden). The shrine is also a short walk from the Waseda Station on the Tozai Metro Line.
Higo-Hosokawa Garden is free to enter and is like a compact version of the famous Koishikawa Korakuen Garden near Toyko Dome. The garden is on a slope and features a beautiful main pond, trickling waterfalls, gardens and walking paths, and plenty of benches to stop and enjoy the beauty. It’s a great place for photos with interesting architectural features such as stone bridges and lanterns. You can also enjoy seasonal foliage and flowers (such as cherry blossoms, hydrangeas and irises) throughout the year.
On site, there is also a museum showcasing the art collection of the Hosokawa family.
Ana-Hachimangu Shrine dates back to the eleventh century but the buildings were destroyed during World War 2, so the structures are more recent. The shrine is dedicated to Hachiman, revered as the guardian of warriors and is one of the most visited shrines in Tokyo. The shrine has a historic connection with yabusame (or horseback archery) so you will see a large statue of a horseback archer in the grounds, and a yabusame event is held in the nearby Toyama Park each year.
The shrine sits on a small hill near Waseda University. There are beautiful torii gates on the main approaches to the shrine. There is a main worship hall, and you will also find stunning vermillion gates, drum towers and purification fountains on the grounds. The most famous event at Ana-Hachimangu Shrine is the Winter Solstice festival.
Riding the Sakura Tram
If you want to ride the Sakura Tram from end to end:
- Minowabashi Station (Station 1 on the Toden Arakawa Line) is about a five-minute walk from Minowa Station on the Hibiya Line. The Hibiya line passes through popular locations such as Roppongi, Ginza, Akihabara and Ueno.
- Waseda Station (Toden) at the the other end of the Toden Arakawa Line (Station 30) is about 20-30 minutes by public transport from Shinjuka Station. For example, taking the train from Shinjuku Station to Takadanobaba Station, then riding a bus to Nishi-Waseda, followed by about a five-minute walk to the station takes about 20 minutes. Note: There is a separate station called Waseda Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai line which is about a 10 minute walk from the Waseda Station on the Toden Arakawa tram line.
The Toden Arakawa Line connects to several JR trains and subways at about seven locations along the route. The most prominent connections is with the JR Yamanote line in Otsuka. If you are pressed for time, you can skip about a quarter of the route (from Waseda Station Toden to Otsuka-ekimae Station) and enter the tram in Otsuka. Walk out the east exit, follow the signs around the corner, and the Otsuka-ekimae streetcar stop is on the tracks perpendicular to the JR tracks less than a minute away.
Other places you can readily connect to the Toden Arakawa line via a JR train or metro include Machiya and Oji.
How Much Does Riding the Sakura Tram Cost?
You board the train through the front door. The ride is relatively cheap at 170 yen for adults and 90 yen for children. You can pay by cash when you board (no ticket is issued).
You can also use your IC card (such as a Suica card) which is slightly cheaper. You pay by tapping your card on the contact plate, and the fare is automatically deducted. Children need to have a Children’s Suica to get the discount.
If you are planning to get on and off the tram at a number of places along the line you may be better off buying a 1-day pass if you are planning to make multiple stops along the route, so you don’t have to pay 170 yen each time you board the tram. For example, you could get the:
- Toden 1-day Pass, which is only for use on the tram. It costs 400 yen for adults and 200 yen for children which you can buy on the tram or at ticket vending machines at the tram stations; or the
- Toei 1-day pass, which costs 700 yen for adults and 350 yen for children. In addition to the tram, it can be used on the Toei Subway, Toei Buses and the Nippori-Toneri Liner.
When you want to get off the tram, press the stop button (just like on a bus) and exit through the rear door.
It will be crowded on the tram, especially when children are going to or from high schools and junior high; it will also be more crowded when it rains, as many older people will exchange their walks or bicycle rides for a train ride.
Final Thoughts
The Sakura Tram is a unique Tokyo tramway where you can see both Tokyo’s daily life and beautiful sights. The best times to ride the line are when the cherry blossoms, roses, and hydrangeas are blooming. Another great time is when the Autumn leaves are showing. If you have the time, stop at various locations along the route.
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Wisterian Watertree has lived in Japan for more than 15 years, and traveled the country from the southern tip of Okinawa to the northern edge of Hokkaido with his three children. Enjoying every minute of it, even the tantrums and hours spent looking for lost mittens in the snow.
Now he writes books dedicated to help others get the best out of Japan.