As cherry blossoms begin to line the streets of Nihonbashi, there’s a quiet shift in the atmosphere – soft pink reflections against glass buildings, petals drifting between historic facades, and a sense that spring has properly arrived.
At Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, the season is marked with two thoughtfully designed experiences that let you slow down and take it all in: a sakura-themed afternoon tea, and a rickshaw ride through one of Tokyo’s most historic blossom-lined streets.
🌸 Sakura Afternoon Tea at the Oriental Lounge
Set high above the city, the Oriental Lounge offers a calm vantage point over Nihonbashi just as the cherry blossoms begin to bloom. The Sakura Afternoon Tea (March 23rd – April 26th, 2026) is a seasonal take on the hotel’s signature offering.
The savoury selection leans into spring ingredients, with combinations like wild vegetables paired with sakura shrimp, and green peas with lily bulb panna cotta layered with prosciutto. There’s a subtle richness running through the course too – scallop with truffle in a crisp vol-au-vent, and foie gras with chicken sweetbread – balanced by fresher notes like asparagus with urui and caviar.
The sweets are where the sakura theme comes through most clearly, but never in an overpowering way: sakura leaf financier with raspberry, sakura mousse with matcha and red currant, pistachio and cherry, sakura pound cake, and a softly floral sakura and cassis Mont-Blanc.
Paired with this is a tea sommelier-curated selection of over 20 teas and coffees, all available for unlimited pours.
Information
📍Location: Oriental Lounge, Mandarin Oriental Tokyo
🗓️Dates: March 23th – April 26th, 2026
💰Price: ¥9,900 per person
🌸 Sakura Rickshaw Experience
For something a little more immersive, the Sakura Rickshaw Experience (March 14th – April 12th, 2026) offers a completely different perspective.
Starting just outside the hotel, the route follows Sakura-dori street – known for its historical significance as well as its rows of cherry trees. It’s also where rickshaws were first introduced to Tokyo, which adds a quiet sense of continuity to the experience.
As you move through the area, you pass a mix of Edo-period architecture and modern buildings, all softened by the canopy of blossoms overhead; on a breezy day, petals drift through the air, catching briefly before settling.
There are two options:
A regular ride (¥10,000) for a simple, scenic experience
The Sakura Signature Ride (¥16,000), which includes mini bottles of pink champagne and a Polaroid photograph taken during the journey
Information
📍Location: Outside Mandarin Oriental Tokyo
🗓️Dates: March 14th – April 12th, 2026 (10:00–16:00)
💰Price: ¥10,000 / ¥16,000 per ride
✍️Notes: Advance reservation (24h) required
