Along the Meguro River, up to the hilltop Saigoyama Park, through the 1919 Asakura family house and Daikanyama's low-rise lanes and T-Site bookstore, ending at Ebisu Garden Place and the lantern-lit Ebisu Yokocho.
Best time: Afternoon into evening; late March to early April for the Meguro River cherry blossoms (expect crowds). Kyu Asakura House closes Mondays.
The route, stop by stop
- 1Naka-meguro Station
Under the tracks: Nakameguro Koukashita, 700 m of bars and shops anchored by Nakameguro Tsutaya Books. 15 min
- 2Meguro River
Cherry-lined river with cafes and shops on both banks; a pink tunnel in spring, green shade in summer. 20 min
- 3Saigoyama Park
Hilltop park with views over the city. 15 min
- 4Kyu Asakura House
Important Cultural Property: a 1919 house mixing Japanese and Western rooms, with a garden like a small forest. 100 yen; closed Mondays. 40 min
- 5Hillside Terrace
Low-rise shops and galleries along Kyu-Yamate-dori. 15 min
- 6Daikanyama T-Site
DAIKANYAMA TSUTAYA BOOKS, 'a library in the woods': three linked buildings with cafes. 30 min
- 7Ebisu Garden Place
Complex on the old Yebisu brewery site; Museum of Yebisu Beer, the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum and the Garden Place Tower views. 40 min
- 8Ebisu Yokocho
Lantern-lined arcade of small bars and food stalls near the station's east exit, best after dark. 30 min
More walks in Tokyo
- Yanaka and Nezu: old Tokyo from Nippori to Nezu Shrine
- Asakusa back streets to Kappabashi and Kuramae
- Basho's Fukagawa: Morishita to Kiyosumi Garden and the art museum
- Nihonbashi to Ningyocho: merchant Tokyo
- Kagurazaka: geisha lanes and stone alleys
- Shibuya to Meiji Jingu via Cat Street
- Imperial Palace East Gardens to Yurakucho's under-track bars
- Jimbocho book town to Kanda Myojin
- Shibamata: Tora-san's town to the Edo River ferry
- Mount Takao Trail 1: Takaosanguchi to the summit