From Minowabashi Stop to Arakawa Amusement Park and Asukayama Park on the Toden Arakawa Line (Tokyo Sakura Tram)

History and Local Charm

Connecting Minowabashi Stop to Waseda over 12.2 kilometers, the Toden Arakawa Line is the only remaining streetcar (Toden) route in Tokyo. In 1972, amidst the widespread abolition of many Toden lines, this section remained in operation. Since 2017, it has been given the nickname "Tokyo Sakura Tram." The name "sakura" comes from the numerous cherry blossom viewing spots along the line, such as near Asukayama Stop.

The origin of the line is the Oji Electric Railway. The earliest section opened in 1911 between Otsuka on the Yamanote Line and Asukayama-ue (now Asukayama). It is said that there was a period of financial difficulty during which Shibusawa Eiichi reportedly offered assistance. In 1913, the section from Asukayama-shita (now Kajiwara) to Minowa (now Minowabashi) was opened.

The tram also fostered recreational destinations along its route. In 1922, anticipating the arrival of visitors brought by the Oji Electric Railway, an amusement park was established along the banks of the Sumida River. This was the beginning of what is now Arakawa Amusement Park. In 1932, the Oji Electric Railway took over its management.

Asukayama, the final stop on this course, is a place where the 8th shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune planted cherry trees and opened the grounds for the leisure of common people in Edo. In the Meiji period, Shibusawa Eiichi established his main residence here. A retro tram stop, a downtown amusement park, and a cherry blossom site dating from Edo—this course connects three places via streetcar to trace the changing face of leisure in Tokyo.

Key Highlights

• ​Minowabashi Stop​​: The starting point of the Toden Arakawa Line, it was selected in 1997 as one of the 100 Famous Stations of Kanto as "a stop where Tokyo's only streetcar runs, lined with splendid blooming roses in spring." Featuring a dead-end track layout, it is flanked by retro signposts, advertising boards reminiscent of the Showa era, and wooden fences. The Minowabashi Omoide-kan near the stop displays historical Toden materials and dioramas.
• ​Arakawa Amusement Park​​: The only public amusement park in Tokyo's 23 wards, it reopened after renovations in April 2022. It features a 40-meter-high Ferris wheel and the Family Coaster, which claims to be the "slowest roller coaster in Japan." The last Toden Type 6000 car to stay in service, known as the "Ikkyu-san," is now used as a café.
• ​Asukayama Park​​: A renowned cherry blossom site where 1,270 cherry trees were planted between 1720 and 1721 by order of Yoshimune. Even today, more than 600 cherry trees remain. Inside the park, Toden 6080, which ran on the Arakawa Line next to the park until April 1978, is displayed, and visitors can enter the carriage.

Recommended Route and Travel Time

The estimated time required is about 5 hours. Minowabashi Stop is about a 5-minute walk from Minowa Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line. Along Nikko Kaido stands the former Oden Building, constructed in 1927. The building features an unusual arcade-like structure where you can pass directly underneath, allowing views of the tram stop from the highway. The Minowabashi Omoide-kan, located beside the arched entrance gate, sells tram passes, including one-day tickets.

From Minowabashi Stop, take the tram northwest for about 3.8 kilometers toward Arakawa Amusement Park. Get off at Arakawa-yuenchimae Stop, and it is a 3-minute walk. After enjoying the view from the Ferris wheel, visit the Shitamachi Toden Mini Museum on the first floor of the Fureai House to see handmade models of the streetcars.

From Arakawa Amusement Park, board the tram again and head west for about 1.8 kilometers to Asukayama Park. It is a 1-minute walk from Asukayama Stop, and a 2-minute walk from Oji-ekimae Stop. After seeing the Asukayama Monument on the hill, step inside the Toden 6080 car. Riding the entire line takes about 1 hour, but the distances between stops are so short that you can see the adjacent stop, making walking between stations an enjoyable option. The roses along the railway are generally at their best from early May to early June, and from mid-October to November.

Experience Summary

From the retro starting stop, sway along in a single-car streetcar to the amusement park beside the Sumida River. Finally, at Asukayama, where the people of Edo once gathered for cherry blossom viewing, step aboard a tram that once traveled these tracks. Encounter the history of Tokyo's leisure culture connected by streetcars.