One of the best traditional Japanese gardens in Tokyo is actually located in the grounds of a hotel – the Hotel New Otani in the Akasaka district. While that might seem counterintuitive, it’s because the garden was there first, built around 400 years before the hotel was constructed around it in 1964. The hotel has…
Category: Gardens & Parks
Yoyogi Park
Yoyogi Park is a modern 54 hectare public park located adjacent to Meiji Shrine, Harajuku and Omotesando. It features expansive lawns, ponds and fountains in its greener area and a stage and event area across a pedestrian bridge on the other side of the road. The event area also holds weekend festivals and events most…
Institute for Nature Study
If you’re craving nature that’s a bit wilder than the manicured greenery of Tokyo’s parks and gardens, the Institute for Nature Study in Meguro is just the thing for you. It’s a huge nature reserve within the city run by Japan’s National Museum of Nature and Science. The Centre’s focus is on researching, preserving and educating…
Ueno Park
Ueno Park is a huge public park in northern Tokyo that greets 10 million visitors per year. It houses a large pond with a temple at its centre, several shrines and many of the city’s major museums within its grounds. These include The National Science Museum, National Museum for Western Art and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art…
Nezu Museum
The Nezu Museum, just beyond the top end of the Omotesando shopping strip, has something for everyone. Founded by a Japanese rail magnate, it houses his large private collection of Japanese and Asian art antiquities. But there’s a lot more to it than that. For architecture aficionados, there’s the beauty and simplicity of the Kengo…
Hibiya Park
Hibiya Park is a 16 hectare (40 acre) public park. It’s located between the Ginza commercial district and the Imperial Palace grounds. Featuring multiple different Japanese and Western garden areas, it’s great for a stroll or to sit in nature for a while. There are numerous water features throughout the park grounds, including Japanese ponds and…
Shinjuku Gyoen
Shinjuku Gyoen is an expansive 144 acre (58.7 hectare) park nestled next to Shinjuku’s busy shopping and entertainment district. Established hundreds of years ago, it became part of the Imperial Family’s landholdings in the early 1900’s. It was almost completely destroyed during World War II, then restored and opened to the public in 1949. Shinjuku Gyoen…
Kiyosumi Teien
Kiyosumi Teien is perhaps Tokyo’s most beautiful traditional garden, located in residential Kiyosumi Shirakawa in the city’s east. It was created in the late 1800’s by a shipping magnate who founded Mitsubishi. The Mitsubishi company then donated the garden to Tokyo City in 1932. The tranquil, manicured garden features strolling pathways that wend their way…
Inokashira Koen
Inokashira Koen (Park), a short walk through shopping streets from Kichijoji Station, is one of the most beautiful public parks in Tokyo. Located in a gully, it features a large lake ringed with beautiful vegetation. There’s multiple walking trails to explore and plenty of places to sit and relax. You can also enjoy the lake…