Mini Sakura Tour in Setagaya
Travis from Hawaii is back for Round 2! Just in time for the peak of sakura season.
Travis went crazy and has already done most of the touristy activities, so as a friend, I felt the need to slow his pace down and take him to these hidden holes of real suburban life in Japan. There is calmness even in chaotic cities like Tokyo.
The Japanese Girlfriend Treatment
I wanted to give Travis the ultimate Japanese omotenashi (hospitality) and give him the “Japanese Girlfriend” treatment.
What does this mean exactly?
When having a picnic as a couple, it is tradition for the girlfriend to prepare a bento for her boyfriend, and the boyfriend buys the drinks and the mat to sit down.
It means preparing a home cooked meal to enjoy a picnic under the Sakura trees to appreciate what nature has to offer.
Wagyu beef + rice (requested by Travis)
Sweet potato and mash potato salad + veggies for color
Cone sushi (Inari) + red and white strawberries
Premium 4-blend barley tea (requested by Travis)
Travis is one lucky guy because…
This three-layer bento meal was made with Bunny Love!!
I was so busy this sakura season that I missed the opportunity to do this with my very own Bunny BF!
Bunny BF was extremely jealous of Travis, but that’s ok, we had a nice rainy hanami last year at the same park and plus… there’s always next year!
Kinuta Park | 砧公園
Kinuta Park is very huge and has beautiful flower gardens everywhere.
It is free to enter and there is a spot for everyone. This is the park where Bunny BF and I had our second date. It is located in Setagaya Ward.
1-1 Kinuta-koen, Setagaya City, Tokyo
Gōtoku-ji Temple | 大谿山 豪徳寺
If you want a Maneki Neko Cat charm, be sure to come before they close at 3:00pm!
Buddhist temple that has a cute story about a cat saving a Lord.
Official website: https://gotokuji.jp/en/
My favorite photo of Travis :)
You can see the beautiful weeping sakura tree at this temple! There were no crowds and it was nice and quiet. Free admission.
Sakura Jingū | 桜神宮
Visitors to this small shrine can purchase pink ribbons and write their romantic wishes on it and tie them to this tree.
Unfortunately, sakura was late this year. Usually this tree is full of both ribbons and sakura…
But it’s ok! We made our prayers to both shrine and temple, so Travis can have a safe flight back home.
