12 Best Gardens in Tokyo

1. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden（新宿御苑）

Located within walking distance of one of the world’s busiest Shinjuku station is Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, a true oasis for urban citizens. The garden is famous for its cherry blossoms in spring; there are more than one thousand cherry trees of 65 varieties, which bloom continuously for a month from late March to late April. More than a million people come and enjoy the cherry blossoms in wide open spaces.

There used to be a mansion of the “Daimyo” (a feudal lord) Naito on the site during the Edo Period (1603-1868). After the Meiji Restoration (1868), the estate was purchased by the Meiji government of the days and used as an agricultural experiment station. In 1906, an imperial garden was created here and used as a palace garden to welcome guests of honor from overseas. The garden, however, was mostly destroyed by air raids in WWII. After the war, the garden was re-designed as a national garden and was open to the public in 1949.

The garden consists of the three garden styles; English landscape garden, French formal garden, and Japanese traditional garden. It was originally designed by a French landscape designer in the beginning of the 20^th century, and is considered to be an excellent example of modern Western-style gardens existing within Japan.

Autumn coloring of leaves of maples and plane trees is also worth seeing. In November, a traditional and graceful display of chrysanthemums is shown in the Japanese garden.

How to get there: 5 minutes’ walk from Shinjuku-gyoemmae station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi line (M-10). 10 minutes’ walk from Shinjuku station on the JR-East lines, the Keio line, and the Odakyu line.

Admission: 500 yen

Hours of opening:
9:00 – 16:30 (1^st Oct.1 to 14^th Mar., last entry 16:00)
9:00 – 18:00 (15^th Mar. to 30^th Jun., 21^st Aug. to 30^th Sep. last entry 17:30)
9:00 – 19:00 (1^st Jul. to 20^th Aug., last entry 18:30)

Closed on Mondays (if Monday is a national holiday, closed on the next weekday), 29^th Dec – 3^rd Jan.

https://fng.or.jp/shinjuku/en/

2. Rikugien Gardens (六義園)

Rikugien is one of the best gardens created by “Daimyos” (feudal lords) during the Edo Period (1603-1868). The garden was designed and created by Daimyo Yoshiyasu Yanagisawa in his estate in Komagome, which was given to him by his lord, the fifth Tokugawa Shogun Tsunayoshi, at the turn of the 17^th and the 18^th centuries. Yoshiyasu had a detailed knowledge of “waka”, Japanese poetry, and tried to reproduce beautiful scenic spots of Japan which were expressed in old waka poems by arranging a large pond and hills in the garden.

During the Meiji Period (1868-1912), Rikugien was purchased by and became the residence of Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of the Mitsubishi zaibatsu (conglomerate). Later the garden was donated to the city of Tokyo and was opened to the public in 1938. Rikugien miraculously survived both the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 and the WWII.

The lighting-up of gorgeous weeping cherry trees can be seen in late March, and the one of autumn colors from late November to early December.

How to get there: 5 minutes’ walk from Komagome station on the JR-East Yamanote line and the Tokyo Metro Namboku line (N-14).

Admission: 300 yen

Hours of opening: 9:00 – 17:00 (last entry 16:30)

Closed: Dec 29^th – Jan 1st.

https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/teien/en/rikugien/index.html

3. Hama-rikyu Gardens （浜離宮恩賜庭園）

Hama-rikyu is an attractive garden for strolling. Located along the Tokyo Bay, the place was originally a falconry field of the Tokugawa Shoguns. In 1654, Tsunashige Matsudaira, the prime minister of Kofu and a younger brother of the fourth Tokugawa Shogun Ietsuna, obtained a permission from him to reclaim land from the sea and build a villa. As Tsunashige’s son became the sixth Shogun, the estate has belonged to the Tokugawa Shoguns since then, and the past Shoguns made various changes to the traditional garden. The estate was called as “Hama Goden” (Beach Palace), where the Shoguns enjoyed falconry and their stay by the sea. After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the garden became a detatched palace for the imperial family. After WWII, it was given to the city of Tokyo by the imperial family, and then was opened to the public in 1946.

The garden has a tidal pond, whose seawater of which is drawn from Tokyo Bay through a sluice gate. This is to create an interesting difference in the scenery by using the change of the water levels. The pond is the only existing seawater pond within Tokyo.

Nakajima-no-ochaya, the teahouse which is built over the water in the middle of the tidal pond, is photogenic together with a long wooden bridge built over the water. The teahouse was first built in the early 18^th century and was renovated in 1983.

A large number of the original buildings and trees were damaged by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 and WWII. The three teahouses by the tidal pond were all reconstructed in modern times in reference to the historical records. There are also interesting gardens of peonies, Japanese apricots, Japanese irises and others.

How to get there: 7 minutes’ walk to Otemon gate from Tukijishijo station on the Toei Subway Oedo line (E-18). 7 minutes’ walk from Shiodome station on the Toei Subway Oedo line (E-19) and the Yurikamome line. Also accessible by water bus run by Tokyo Cruise.

Admission: 300 yen

Hours of opening: 9:00 – 17:00 (last entry 16:30)

Closed: 29^th Dec. – 1^st Jan.

https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/teien/en/hama-rikyu/index.html

4. Kiyosumi Gardens (清澄庭園)

In 1878, Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of the Mitsubishi zaibatsu (conglomerate), purchased an abandoned traditional garden created by a “Daimyo” (feudal lord) during the Edo Period (1603-1868), and set about reconstructing it for the purpose of entertaining his guests and providing recreation to his employees.

A large pond with three small islands in it is the centerpiece of the garden, and “Ryo-tei”, a house built above the pond, provides a scenic view. Various kinds of interesting stones collected from every region of Japan are set around the pond.

The completed beautiful garden was sadly ruined by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, but the spacious garden with a large pond and many trees saved more than ten thousand lives from fires. The Kiyosumi gardens were donated to the city of Tokyo by Iwasaki family shortly afterward as part of the disaster preparedness. The gardens were repaired and maintained, and then were opened to the public in 1932.

How to get there: 3 minutes’ walk from Kiyosumi-shirakawa station on the Toei Subway Oedo line (E-14) and the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon line (Z-11).

Admission fee: 150 yen

Hours of opening: 9:00 – 17:00 ( last entry 16:30)

Closed: 29^th Dec. – 1^st Jan.

https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/teien/en/kiyosumi/index.html

5. Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens （小石川後楽園）

Koishikawa Korakuen is one of the best gardens created by “Daimyos” (feudal lords) in the Edo Period (1603-1868), as with Rikugien Gardens. The garden was made by Yorifusa Tokugawa, the first feudal lord of Mito, and then was completed by Mitsukuni Tokugawa, the second feudal lord. Mitsukuni was influenced by Shu Shunsui, the renowned scholar of Confucianism in the Ming dynasty, so the garden had many Chinese features as well as Japanese ones.

The garden is designed for strolling and enjoying the changeful sceneries. The beautiful sceneries of the sea, rivers, mountains, and the countryside are reproduced in smaller size by arranging hills, rivers, ponds, and man-made structures like bridges. There is even a rice field, which is rare to see in Japanese gardens, and which now gives elementary school pupils in the area an educational opportunity to learn how to grow rice.

How to get there: 8 minutes’ walk from Iidabashi station on the JR-East Sobu line, the Tokyo Metro Tozai line (T-06), the Tokyo Metro Namboke line (N-10), the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho line (Y-18), and the Toei Subway Oedo line (E-06).

Admission: 300 yen

Hours of opening: 9:00 – 17:00 (last entry 16:30)

Closed: 29^th Dec. – 1^st Jan.

https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/teien/en/koishikawa/index.html

6. Kyu-Furukawa Gardens （旧古河庭園）

You will find a wonderful combination of Western and Japanese garden styles made by the two talented designers in Kyu-Furukawa Gardens, the former residence of wealthy Furukawa family.

In 1917, British architect Josiah Conder, who had been invited by the Meiji Government and engaged in many national architectural projects during the second half of the 19^th century, designed a house and a formal garden in Western style here. The estate had a unique landform with height difference, so Conder placed a house on a hill, and a terraced formal rose garden on the slope in front of the house. Another garden was set on a lower land, a peaceful Japanese garden designed and created by a famous garden designer, Jihei Ogawa from Kyoto.

The house and the formal rose garden in Western style provided a new look then. The rose garden is most beautiful in late May, when it is specially lit up in the evening. Autumn colors in the Japanese garden are fantastic in late November.

How to get there: 7 minutes’ walk from Kaminakazato station on the JR-East Keihin-Tohoku line. 7 minutes’ walk from Nishigahara station on the Tokyo Metro Namboku line (N-15).

Admission: 150 yen *The house is differently managed.

Hours of opening: 9:00 – 17:00 ( last entry 16:30)

Closed: 29^th Dec. – 1^st Jan.

https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/teien/en/kyu-furukawa/index.html

7. Happo-en （八芳園）

Located in the heart of Shirokanedai city is the peaceful, green garden known as Happo-en. While Happo-en has especially become known for its wedding and banquet venues, its marvelous traditional Japanese garden is open to the general public.

In the early 17^th century, the Happo-en estate was the residence of Hikozaemon Okubo, a samurai general who served under the Tokugawa shogunate in the early Edo period. The estate was later purchased in the early 20^th century and became the residence of Fusanosuke Kuhara, a famous entrepreneur who helped to found several companies including the famous company Hitachi. Fusanosuke Kuhara devoted his time and efforts into creating the wonderful 12,000 square meter garden we see today.

At the center of this lush green garden, which is comprised of natural hills and water features, is a pond, making this garden perfect for strolling. In the surrounding foliage you will find historical landmarks, such as a 19^th century teahouse called “Muan” and a stone pagoda, both of which were transported and rebuilt on site, creating perfect harmony within the garden. In this garden, you can enjoy 500 year old bonsai trees, as well as Nishikigoi carp swimming leisurely around the pond, creating a beautiful scene, a scene where you can witness the true beauty of Japan.

Finally, after enjoying a stroll around the garden guests can relax with a cup of tea at the Thrush Café located in the lobby of the main building.

How to get there: 1 minute walk from exit 2 of Shirokanedai station on the Tokyo Metro Namboku line (N-02) and the Toei Subway Mita line (I-02).

Hours of Operation: 10:00 – 22:00 (Hours are subject to change)

The facilities are closed during the summer and New Year’s holidays.

https://www.happo-en.com/banquet/about/

8. The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace （皇居東御苑 二の丸庭園）

Right in the heart of Tokyo, surprisingly peaceful sceneries are waiting for you. The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace have been open to the public since 1968 and have been popular destinations. In 2019, more than 2.2 million people visited there.

During the Edo Period (1603-1868), there used to be the Edo Castle on the site with a traditional garden designed by Enshu Kobori, a famous garden designer and tea master in the early 17th century, but the garden was lost to several fires. The gardens you see today were created in the 1960s in reference to a plan of the gardens dating back to the middle of the 18th century.

The gardens’ highlight is late April when colorful azaleas are in full bloom. In June, you will find elegant Japanese irises being at their best. It is also enjoyable to see the beautiful Nishikigoi carp swimming around a pond and to stroll in lush woodland areas.

How to get there: 5 minutes’ walk from Otemachi station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi line (M-18), the Tokyo Metro Tozai line (T-09), the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda line (C-11), the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon line (Z-08) and the Toei Subway Mita line (I-09).

Admission: free

Hours of opening:
9:00 – 17:00 (1^st Mar. to 14^th Apr., 1^st Sep. to end Sep., last entry 16:30)
9:00 – 18:00 (15^th Apr. to 31^st Aug., last entry 17:30)
9:00 – 16:30 (1^st Oct. to end Oct., last entry 16:00)
9:00 – 16:00 (1^st November to end February, last entry 15:30)

Closed on Mondays and Fridays (if Monday is a national holiday, closed on the next weekday), 28^th Dec – 3^rd Jan.

https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-about/shisetsu/kokyo.html

https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-event/higashigyoen02.html

9. Mejiro Garden （豊島区立 目白庭園）

Mejiro Garden is located in a quiet residential area near JR Mejiro station. It is a relatively new Japanese garden created in 1990 by Toshima ward of Tokyo for the inhabitants of the ward. The cozy garden is designed to stroll around a pond. Rocks, a waterfall, and other garden structures such as a traditional teahouse and a hexagonal pavilion, are set around the pond.

Many kinds of flowering plants and trees including wild grasses and plants of Japan will let you feel the changing of the seasons. It is amusing to see a family of spot-billed ducks which come to the pond in spring. The special lighting-up of autumn colors is fascinating from the end of November to the beginning of December.

How to get there: 5 minutes’ walk from Mejiro station on the JR-East Yamanote line.

Admission: free (charges for the autumn illumination)

Hours of opening: 9:00 – 17:00 except Jul. and Aug. (9:00 – 19:00 in Jul. and Aug.), and the autumn illumination.

Closed: the second and the fourth Mondays of the month(if Monday is a national holiday, closed on the next weekday), 29^th Dec. – 3^rd Jan.

https://www.gotokyo.org/en/spot/644/index.html

10. Yamamoto-tei （山本亭）

Yamamoto-tei stands right next to Shibamata Taishakuten, a famous 17^th century Buddhist temple, which is a popular sightseeing spot in the Shibamata area. Yamamoto-tei was the residence of Einosuke Yamamoto, the successful founder of Yamamoto Kojo, a manufacturer of metal parts. Einosuke renovated the traditional shoin style house several times in 1920s by adopting newly-introduced western architecture. The house is a good example of the mixed architectural style of the days.

The garden of Yamamoto-tei is a shoin-zukuri garden, a garden design which has priority to admire the garden view from the inside of a house. A pond is the centerpiece backed by evergreens, and a waterfall at the back of the garden gives the depth to the whole picture. Yamamoto-tei is the 4^th -ranked garden in the 2019 Shiosai Project, the garden rankings of Japan organized by Sukiya Living Magazine, a specialized Japanese garden magazine based in the USA. Enjoy looking over the beautiful garden with having a cup of tea inside the house.

How to get there: 8 minutes’ walk from Shibamata station on the Keiseikanamachi line.

Admission: 100 yen

Hours of opening: 9:00 – 17:00

Closed: the third Tuesdays of the month, the third Tuesday, the third Wednesday and the third Thursday of December.

http://www.katsushika-kanko.com/yamamoto/eng/

11. Jindai Botanical Park（神代植物公園）

The spacious Jindai Botanical Park sits in Chofu city, a suburb of Tokyo which has good access to the central area. More than 4,800 kinds of plants are cultivated here including shrubs and trees such as roses, ume trees (Japanese apricots), cherry trees, magnolias, rhododendrons, azaleas, maples, and camelias. You’ll enjoy flowers of the season throughout a year, as well as tropical plants in a large greenhouse.

The formal sunken rose garden is one of the largest within Tokyo. Spring roses are at their best in late May and autumn ones in mid-October. Azaleas and rhododendrons in spring are also fantastic. The park has unchanged natural woodland areas which used to belong to the adjacent Jindaiji Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples within Tokyo. On the streets outside the temple, there are lots of diners who serve “Jindaiji soba” noodles, the traditional local specialty.

How to get there: From Chofu station on the Keio line, take the Odakyu Bus bound for Kichijoji station or Mitaka station, then get off at Jindai Shokubutsu Koemmae. Or take the Keio Bus bound for Jindaiji, then get off at Jindai Shokubutsu Koen.

Admission: 500 yen

Hours of opening: 9:30 – 17:00 (last entry 16:00)

Closed on Mondays (if Monday is a national holiday, closed on the next weekday), 29^th Dec – 1^st Jan.

https://www.gotokyo.org/en/spot/431/index.html

Jindaiji Temple: https://www.jindaiji.or.jp/en/

12. Yumenoshima Tropical Greenhouse Dome （夢の島熱帯植物館）

In the waterfront areas along Tokyo Bay stands the eye-catching Yumenoshima Tropical Greenhouse Dome. Three glasshouse domes are heated by the energy of high-temperature water sent from the adjacent disposal facility, to establish a tropical rainforest climate favorable for cultivating tropical plants.

Various kinds of exotic tropical plants and flowers including orchids and ferns, which come from the rainforests in South-East Asia, the Amazon valley and the Zaire valley, are on display throughout the year. At the event hall, lectures about tropical plants are given regularly.

The Yumenoshima waterfront area attracts attention as it is the archery venue of Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games.

How to get there: 15 minutes’ walk from Shin-kiba station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho line (Y-24), the JR-East Keiyo line and the TWR Rinkai line.

Admission: 250 yen

Hours of opening: 9:30 – 17:00 (last entry 16:00)

Closed on Mondays (if Monday is a national holiday, closed on the next weekday), 29^th Dec. – 3^rd Jan.

http://www.yumenoshima.jp/english.html

Credit

文／３and garden
ガーデニングに精通した女性編集者で構成する編集プロダクション。ガーデニング・植物そのものの魅力に加え、女性ならではの視点で花・緑に関連するあらゆる暮らしの楽しみを取材し紹介。「３and garden」の３は植物が健やかに育つために必要な「光」「水」「土」。

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21-23) 八芳園 8)3and garden