Nakameguro, Tokyo
Nakameguro cherry blossoms at night - Like this photo?
Nakameguro is a laid back neighborhood just a few minutes from Shibuya
It is best known for its cherry blossoms
Many hip, artsy people visit here, an area full of cafes and boutiques
The reason I first visited Nakameguro was for its famed cherry blossoms - a 2.4 mile (4km) tunnel over the Meguro River made up of about 800 trees.
This one to two week period gets really crowded, and after seeing how beautiful the flowers are at day and during the light-up festival at night, it’s easy to see why.
I’ve taken photos here a few times, and it’s in my video for top 5 photogenic cherry blossom spots in Tokyo.
Another image that comes to mind when thinking about Nakameguro is that it’s an expensive residential area. There are many cafes, boutiques and galleries that attract the artistic, fashionable and hipster from around Tokyo.
How to get there
Two train lines run through Nakameguro Station: The Tōyoko Line and the Hibiya Line. From Shibuya on the Tōyoko Line, it’s only 4 minutes. From Ebisu on the Hibiya Line, it’s only 2 minutes.
About Nakameguro
Nakameguro simply means “inside Meguro” and it is indeed located in the Meguro Ward.
The area went through a revival in the ‘90s and has become an area for artists and designers to open up studios and shops.
Meguro Ward is amongst the most expensive wards in Tokyo to live. One of the reasons, perhaps, is it’s said to be strong against earthquakes. [J]
In any case, Nakameguro is generally considered to be one of the most appealing areas in the ward, and is often compared to similarly stylish areas such as Daikanyama, Jiyūgaoka, Ebisu and Aoyama.
Two of the main areas of Nakameguro are along the Meguro River (above) and under the train tracks, also known as Nakameguro Koukashita.
Meguro Riverside
The roads along the riverside are lined with shops that range from street fashion to bakeries to crafts and cafes.
I personally haven’t shopped or ate at many but places like Mark Matsuoka Grill [MAP], Cheese Cake Johan [MAP], and green bean to bar Chocolate [MAP] seem to be amongst the popular spots.
Also along the riverside is one of the newer Nakameguro destinations, Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo. It’s one of only several of its kind in the world and the Tokyo location is 4 floors and 32,000 sq. ft. of Starbucks’ finest offerings. If you haven’t been to one, it’s worth checking out.
Nakameguro Koukashita
Under the train tracks and out to the southwest is Nakameguro Koukashita, a line of restaurants and boutiques.
It actually starts directly under the station with Tsutaya, a well known bookstore chain. Like many of their locations, their Nakameguro one is thoughtfully designed, and has spaces for browsing, talking and meeting. Also in the complex is a Starbucks and a few other cafes.
Towards the southwest are individual shops. Most are restaurants and cafes that are casual yet slightly fancy. As you get further from the station, there are more up-and-coming designer boutiques.
Exploring the areas adjacent to both of these main streets is something that I’ve found to be interesting recently.
There are numerous little artisan coffee shops and stylish eateries, but also hole-in-the-wall izakayas, vegetable stands and even fish markets like Sakana Bacca [MAP].
The cherry blossoms may have been what initially brought me to Nakameguro, but more and more, I’m feeling that there’s a whole lot more to the area that I’ve yet to experience.
For visitors, it’s a good place to dive into the stylish world of local Tokyo craft.
What we ate
Seirinkan
Seirinkan is often considered the best pizza in Tokyo, and that statement may be correct.
It’s been featured in places like CNN and enjoyed by many including David Chang, who went on to say “the best pizza in the world is in Tokyo” on his Netflix show “Ugly Delicious.”
The shop itself is in a modified factory-like building and its decor makes it somewhat of a Beatles shrine. You have to go up a pretty scary spiral staircase, but don’t let it deter you from getting a seat.
Unlike a lot of other top pizza chefs, Seirinkan’s never actually trained in Naples and he utilizes Japanese ingredients, prioritizing freshness over origin.
Now I’m generally not a crust fan, but wow, this one (and pizza as a whole) was amazing. I understand the hype.
Udatsu Sushi
Udatsu Sushi is in a residential area and is such a treat. Behind a concrete facade and wooden door is an artistically designed space with a chef that serves equally impressive sushi.
Our lunch course featured about 17 different dishes, each crafted to perfection.
The chef grew up in a family that ran a meat shop but was drawn to sushi. After gaining experience at a Michelin starred sushi restaurant, he opened this omakase. He uses two different shari (sushi rice) in order to best match with the fish, and dishes like his handroll that had ingredients such as takenoko (bamboo shoots), garlic chips and miso are playful with flavor and texture.
I have to say that I really enjoyed the experience. I’d love to go back here for a meal and I definitely recommend it.
Junkadelic
The best Mexican food I’ve had in Tokyo.
As someone who’s spent several years in California, I’ve been on a hunt to find decent Mexican food in Tokyo. So far, Junkadelic is it.
The concept is based on experiences the owner had in San Diego, and Junkadelic’s food and decor aims to mimic that vibe in Tokyo. It’s not one of those hyper-localized international places - it does make you feel like you’ve transported someplace else for a bit.
A great place when you need a break from Japanese food and are craving some Tex-Mex.
Happy Pudding Makahala
You can’t really go wrong if there’s “happy pudding” in the name right? Happy Pudding Makahala is located right off the Meguro riverside - a small shop for easy takeout.
It was originally a dessert item at a kushikatsu izakaya, but due to its popularity, the standalone shop was born. It’s a premium pudding - using high-end eggs from an area in Hyogo prefecture, near the owner’s hometown.
The custard pudding is rich and smooth, and they also have special seasonal flavors such as mango, matcha, sweet potato and more.
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