March 2017 www.womanthismonth.com LIFESTYLE | travel 56 Savour the transient beauty of the sakura or cherry blossoms, which swathe Japan’s roaring capital city in pastel pink from late March till April. The top spots to witness thousands of trees in full bloom are Ueno Park and the moats of the former Edo Castle around Kitanomaru Park. Picnics and flower spotting are favourite hobbies at this time. When done, head to HiSUi to channel your inner warrior, practising swordsmanship, or hide out at the cat temple of Gotokuji. Tokyo also offers a plethora of zany and amazing restaurants like the Lock Up, a prisonthemed eatery, and the Zauo, where you sit on an immitation boat and catch your own food from the water before having it cooked. The Meiji Shrine boasts stunning architecture and lush greenery. Visit the Ghibli Museum, designed by the creator of Ghibli Studios, and delight your inner child. Boughs of cherry blossoms over the Meguro river make for fantastic photo opportunities. Frog-shaped cheesecake at the acclaimed Ninja Akasaka restaurant is a hit with guests of all ages. Rabbit petting cafes are popular because many citizens are forbidden to have pets of their own. Cafes offer tea and a cup of treats to feed your furry friend for a small fee. Get a glimpse of the future at a quirky robot-themed restaurant in downtown Tokyo. Harajuku, also known as Tokyo's kawaii capital, is filled with fashionistas sporting unusual outfits and accessories. Tokyo
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