Chidorigafuchi Boat Pier, 2-saki Sanbancho, Chiyoda; Picture Tokyo and you’re probably imagining this very activity: couples rowing a boat down a serene waterway while petals fall from cherry blossom trees. In reality, it gets so busy in the spring that you’d have more luck winning big on a machine than scoring a spot for two. Follow those in-the-know and opt for an afternoon out of season – it’s no less picturesque (but you might want to keep that a secret).