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Yesterday’s cooking oil powers 410,000 pink winter sakura lights along Tokyo’s Meguro River

Elliot Hale a few minute ago
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Who says you have to wait until spring for cherry blossoms?

A wide river coated in pink petals, adorned on either side by rows of stunningly gorgeous cherry blossom trees amid a sprawling cityscape, the Meguro River in spring is one of Tokyo’s must-see sakura viewing spots. Running through the neighborhoods of Gotanda and Osaki, this two-kilometer (1.2-mile) stretch of sakura trees creates of massive pink canopy for visitors to enjoy, and most Tokyo guidebooks will feature a photo of this iconic spot.

Although not every trip to Tokyo coincides with the blossoms, landing a few months earlier in December or January means you don’t necessarily have to miss out on appreciating this pink scenery—it’ll just be LEDs instead of actual petals.

▼ That’s not to say there aren’t different cherry blossom varieties at other times of the year, like around November at Senmi Shikizakura no Sato in Aichi.

Every winter, the Meguro area hosts the Meguro River Minna no Illumination, turning the once bare cherry branches along the river into a glowing pink ‘winter sakura’ display. Running from December 4 to January 31, between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., around 410,000 pink lights will be stretched across the riverbanks, creating a sensory clash as the warming sight of the pink trees battles with the cold of the winter air.

There are many people who eschew winter illuminations due to its environmental impact, but this light display operates on a 100-percent self-generated, closed-loop energy system powered by recycled biodiesel. Local restaurants, businesses, and neighborhood households collect their used cooking oil throughout the year, which gets refined to power the generators, meaning that the oil that may have been used to cook your dinner the previous night might be contributing to tonight’s stroll along the river.

▼ Gotanda Station (五反田駅) is the uppermost landmark on the map, with the yellow Gotanda Waterfront Plaza (五反田ふれあい水辺広場) marked just below it, and the stretch of sakura trees running down to the southeast past Osaki Station (大崎駅).

Along with the lights, the area around Gotanda Waterfront Plaza (a three-minute walk from Gotanda Station) will also feature an interactive light-ripple art installation by creative unit Zero by Zero, which is also powered by the same biodiesel (tentatively available until December 31), and community recycling pop-ups.

A small opening-day ceremony with local school bands and riverboats will be held at 4:00 p.m. on December 4, but between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. a hands-on workshop to make your own kaleidoscope using waste materials such as cardboard and paper tubes will allow you discover new charms in familiar scenery.

If you’re out exploring the area over the holidays, taking a brisk walk under a couple hundred thousand glowing pink lights is a great way to experience the joy of spring a couple of months early.

Source: PR Times
Top image: PR Times
Insert images: ©SoraNews24, PR Times
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