Nighttime cherry blossom viewing has been popular since times immemorial but
really came into strength after the advent of electricity to local shores. Many
local authorities and shrines lit up the cherry trees for viewing at night and
it attracts huge crowds and prolongs cherry blossom viewing parties, which
traditionally start in the late afternoon for office workers.
Minor streets in central Tokyo are seldom tree-lined so it is a nice surprise
to happen on one lit up at night with amazing cherry blossoms. The narrow hilly
street encircling the ANA Hotel and the posh office-residential ARK Hills
development in Tokyo’s fashionable Minato-ku district offers a wonderful
opportunity of serene beauty. The total length of the road sloping first gently
uphill and then dramatically downhill again is probably close to a kilometer.
This is not a traditional cherry blossom viewing spot so the crowds are
mainly limited to people working and living in the area. This makes it a
pleasant and romantic place to stroll during the day but especially at night.
In addition the lack of crowds makes it easy to get a seat at the numerous
restaurants in the ARK Hills building or adjacent ANA Hotel. As these
restaurants cater mostly for the office workers of the district, and get very
busy during lunchtime, dinnertime is pleasantly quiet without being
uncomfortably empty. The range of restaurants is large and includes Aux
Bacchanales - a French bistro and restaurant, Anderssons - a Danish bakery and
sandwich shop, a soup kitchen, various Japanese restaurants, inevitably a
Starbucks, Italian restaurants and upscale French restaurants. Outdoor seating
is available at many eateries in the huge Herbert von Karajan Platz in front of
Asia’s largest concert auditorium, the Suntory Hall.
The ANA Hotel is a large modern up market hotel and a very pleasant place to
stay. It is well located with roomy accommodations and pleasant airy lobbies. It
is often used for banquets of all kinds and sizes.
ARK Hills and the ANA Hotel are located in Akasaka close to the Tameike-Sanno
and Roppongi-1-chome stops on the Namboku subway line.