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Relish Nature in Tokyo! 15 Gardens and Public Parks
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Tokyo is blessed with many gardens and public parks where citizens and visitors can refresh amid nature. We introduce some of the best parks in the city, including Japanese gardens celebrated for their beauty such as Rikugien Gardens and Hamarikyu Gardens.
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This is the official account of MATCHA's editorial department. Our articles feature useful travel information for visitors to Japan, from how-to guides to recommended places to visit.
There are incredibly beautiful gardens tucked into the various corners of Japan. However, when your time is limited, traveling back and forth to the cornucopia of well-known gardens can be difficult.
Even in Tokyo, one of the world's largest cities, you can still find peaceful Japanese gardens that promise to give you a taste of ancient Japan. This time we would like to introduce you to five gardens, all within close proximity of each other, therefore saving you precious travel time in the process.
15 Tranquil Gardens and Public Parks in Tokyo
1. Hamarikyu Gardens
2. Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
3. The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
4. Rikugien Gardens
5. Kiyosumi Garden
6. Toneri park
7. Ueno Park
8. Meiji Jingu Gyoen
9. Happoen Garden
10. The Kyu-Yasuda Garden
11. Higo-Hosokawa Garden
12. Inokashira Park
13. Horikiri Iris Garden
14. Showa Kinen Park
15. Yoyogi Park
1. Hamarikyu Gardens
This extraordinary garden was built using reclaimed land from the sea, where salt water is converted into spring water. There is also a quirky tea shop within the grounds of the garden, where you can savor the aromatic fragrance of green tea and teacakes from within the premises. As well as traditional scenic views, you can also enjoy a modern-day setting of the metropolis in the form of tall skyscrapers, thus providing a view into a parallel universe where ancient modes and modernity collide.
This garden also offers a free speech-oriented guidance system allowing you to listen to information in either English, French, Chinese, Korean or Japanese.
Hotels near Hamarikyu Gardens
2. Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
Found in close proximity to vibrant places such as Tokyo Dome and Kōrakuen amusement park, Koishikawa Kōrakuen Garden is a quiet and relaxing oasis, perfect for those who want to unwind. This tranquil, tree-filled space, boasts plum and cherry blossom trees, Japanese wisteria and irises; with this vast variety of flowers blooming in different seasons, you will surely be able to calm your inner-self and might even have a spiritual experience here.
There are also rice paddy fields within the grounds. If the timing is right, you could end up seeing local elementary school kids as they plant or harvest the rice.
Hotels near Koishikawa Korakuen
3. The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
Conveniently located next to Tokyo station, you can do a loop of this prestigious garden in about an hour. There are many trees within the confines of this majestic place. It is especially beautiful during fall, as the autumn foliage takes center-stage, and the garden is equipped with a walking course that's perfect for viewing this autumnal display. There are also many historical remains, and a free museum where valuable pieces of art are exhibited. This garden is perfect for those who want to experience Japanese history and culture, and those who want to enjoy a peaceful walk.
Hotels near Imperial Palace East Gardens
4. Rikugien Gardens
Rikugien Garden is famous for its large pond. The Japanese garden is both bright and open, which will help you to feel bright and open in both mind and spirit.
The weeping cherry blossom trees stand an impressive 15 meters tall at the park's entrance and within the confines of the garden; they are a significant highlight, beautifully off-setting this tranquil space over the spring months.
During the cherry blossom season, the trees are lit up with night-time illuminations, where you will surely be impressed by the fantasy-like views that are so different from the afternoon appearance.
Hotels near Rikugien Garden
5. Kiyosumi Garden
The Kiyosumi Garden was originally a daimyo's residence during the Edo period (1603-1868), purchased by Mitsubishi's founder, Yataro Iwasaki, and opened to the public in 1891.
Subsequently, a pond was constructed with water from the Sumida River, and stones sourced from various regions of Japan were arranged to complete the garden known today as Kiyosumi Garden. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful landscapes woven by black pines and cross over the pond on stone steps at three locations.
Nearby attractions include the Tokyo Metropolitan Garden Art Museum and the Fukagawa Edo Museum, making it perfect for leisurely exploration.
Kiyosumi Garden
Address: Kiyosumi 3-3-9, Koto ward, Tokyo
Business Hours: 9:00 - 16:30 (closes at 17:00)
Admission fee: general 150 yen, seniors (over 65) 70 yen
Official website: Kiyosumi Garden (Japanese)
6. Toneri park
Photo by Pixta
Popular in spring due to the park's sea of blue nemophila flowers and 1,000 cherry blossom trees, Toneri Park is a must-visit for flower lovers! Situated in Adachi ward, northern Tokyo the park is approximately a 40 minuate train journey from Tokyo station. Each year Toneri Park comes to life with beautiful flowers with illuminations and festival stalls in spring, visitors can enjoy quaint picnics, BBQs, and sports facilities through to fall. The park is a great place for leisurely activities, it was created in celebration of Emperor Hirohito's 50th anniversary of leadership.
7. Ueno Park
Photo by Pixta
Situated in the heart of Tokyo, Ueno Park is an ideal nature spot for those traveling around the city. Featuring an array of museums such as The Tokyo National Museum and National Museum of Nature and Science many come here for a family day out and to get to know Japanese culture and history in-depth while enjoying delicious food stalls, live entertainment, and flowers. In spring visitors are awarded with beautiful cherry blossom trees sprawling across the park, making it a popular hanami spot.
As summer arrives so do gorgeous lotus flowers that can be viewed at Shinobazu Pond and autumn greets visitors with golden and red leaves! Ueno Park is a great place for people-watching, the park often holds events and festivals, so who knows maybe when you visit you will be delightfully surprised by an event!
8. Meiji Jingu Gyoen
Photo by Pixta
Nestled in between the carefree and playful Yoyogi Park and Harajuku's bustling pop culture streets, Meiji Jingu Gyoen is an ancient tranquil sanctuary flourishing in green. Constructed and designed in the Edo period (1603-1867) before Meiji Jingu- the famous shrine on the grounds, Meiji JinguGyoen once served as a garden for the Kumamoto clan and Kato clan.
The garden was created by famous daimyo and samurai Lord Kato of Kumamoto and has had many famous figures visit throughout history, notably the tea house situated on top of the gardens Azalea Hill was a favorable relaxation spot for Emperor Meiji. The garden comes to life each late May to mid-June as 1,500 incredible purple and white iris flowers splash color across the green grounds making it a popular spot for flower enthusiasts in this season. Please note the park is open to the public but does require a 500 yen entrance fee.
9. Happoen Garden
Photo by Pixta
A popular spot to tie the knot! Happoen Garden, just a stone's throw from Shinagawa is a traditional Japanese-style garden popular amongst newlyweds due to its scenic beauty known to be perfect from every angle! Created in the Edo period (1603–1867) the garden has incredible features, from stone lanterns and a reflective pond with colorful koi fish circling, to a tea house and restaurant.
Within the garden, visitors can enjoy bonsai trees, cherry blossoms in spring, hydrangeas in the rainy season, and magnificent red autumn foliage. The garden occasionally has light-up events throughout the year showcasing incredible illuminations, to keep up to date with the garden please check their official website- https://www.happo-en.com/banquet/
10.The Kyu-Yasuda Garden
Photo by Pixta
Situated in Ryogoku, a town known for its association with sumo, the Kyu-Yasuda Garden is the perfect place to relax after a day of exploring Japan's epic history and culture. Once a residential garden for samurai, the grounds have gone through chaotic change throughout its unique history. The pond used to rise and fall with the ocean many moons ago, although the land has changed and it is no longer connected to the river, to replicate this natural phenomenon water pumps have been installed, making the garden and its experience akin to how it was when samurai lived here. Furthermore, due to the damage caused by the Kanto Earthquake and WW2, the garden has been greatly worked upon to make it a peaceful and delightful spot to visit, featuring a red-arched bridge, stone lanterns, a small shrine on the grounds, and a great backdrop of sky tree.
Visitors can enjoy a day of excitement when visiting Ryokgoku, from watching a tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo stadium and spotting sumo walking around the area to exploring incredible museums such as the Japanese Sword Museum and Tokyo Metropolitan Edo-Tokyo Museum.
11.Higo-Hosokawa Garden
Photo by Pixta
Beautiful all year round Higo-Hoskawa Garden is a small peaceful garden flourishing in seasonal beauty just an 8-minute walk from Waseda University. Renamed Shin-Edogawa Garden once open to the public, the garden's old name derives from its former residences, The Hosokawa clan, a Japanese samurai family that ruled Kumamoto Domain. The garden housed many different historical figures throughout its history with multiple rapid changes of owners in WW2 before it was claimed by the government and opened to the public.
The site is especially amazing in autumn as beautiful gold and red leaves light up reflecting, off the pond's surface. Visitors can also enjoy cherry blossom trees in spring, hydrangeas and irises in the rainy season, luscious green in summer, and a Yukitsuri display from November to March. The garden is brimming with traditional Japanese features such as koi fish, stone lanterns, a mini waterfall, and more. Sitting on the edge of the pond is a small hill and forest framing the garden with foliage.
12. Inokashira Park
Photo by Pixta
Known for its mesmerizing cherry blossom-adorn pond featuring adorable white swan boats, Inokashira Park is a popular nature spot for visitors near and far. The park is located near the infamous Studio Ghibli Museum in Kichijōji city making it easily accessible and a great place to add to a Tokyo itinerary, especially in spring and autumn.
Kichijoji is bustling with shops and restaurants the park is the ideal restbite for the day, visitors can enjoy bird watching, paying a visit to the park shrine, and in autumn watch as the forest trees turn gold and red.
13.Horikiri Iris Garden
Photo by Pixta
Featured in the iconic Utagawa Hiroshige’s One Hundred Famous Views of Edo ukiyo-e prints, the Horikiri Iris Garden is a must-visit when traveling around Tokyo in June! This historical garden springs to life with 6,000 iris flowers each early summer showcasing an amazing sea of purple and white petals amongst stone lanterns and arched bridges.
The first of its kind, the garden was open to the public in the Edo period, triggering an iris frenzy across Tokyo, with many gardens implementing these flowers into their grounds there afterward. One of the two locations in the Katsushika Iris Festival the garden is celebrated for its beauty each June you can keep up to date with the flower's progression by visiting the official homepage-https://www.city.katsushika.lg.jp/institution/1000096/1006888.html?hl=en
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14. Showa Kinen Park
Photo by Pixta
The largest park in Tokyo transformed from a military ground into a nature spot in celebration of the Japanese Emperor, Hirohito's 50-year reign, it is easy to see why the vast grounds of Show Kinen Park are so beloved. 160 hectares large, Showa Kinen Park resides in the west of Tokyos nature scape offering incredible seasonal flowers all year round! From carpets of colorful tulips swirling in-between trees in spring to orange crispy ginkgo trees in autumn, no matter the flower Showa Kinen has it.
Known as a great place for photos, the park hosts various events throughout the year including a firework festival in summer and nemophilia flowers and artistic installations in spring. Visitors can enjoy BBQ areas and rent a bike, which is ideal for those who want to visit many areas of the park, as the vast grounds are so large that its train takes around 50 minutes to complete a full trip! Popular flowers to enjoy include cherry blossom trees, irises, red spider lilies, nemophila, tulips, wisteria, azaleas, hydrangeas, lotus flowers, cosmos flowers, and more.
15. Yoyogi Park
Photo by Pixta
One of the largest parks in Tokyo and Just a 5-minute walk away from colorful Harajuku, Yoyogi Park is a popular hangout spot for those visiting this entertaining subculture hot pot in Tokyo.
From families playing frisbee and friends taking photos with flowers to people basking in the sun to the sound of instruments being played a few benches down, Yoyogi Park is a great place to see people from all different walks of life enjoying a peaceful park in the community. Each season brings new splashes of colors, from plum and cherry blossoms to elegant roses, pink azaleas, and blue hydrangeas. Yoyogi Park is also a great place to enjoy the sweet fragrance of Orange Osmanthus blossoms, an adorable orange Japanese flower that blossoms in spring.
For those who need a break from the hustle and bustle of city life, how about taking a walk over to one of these tranquil inner-city havens?
This is the official account of MATCHA's editorial department. Our articles feature useful travel information for visitors to Japan, from how-to guides to recommended places to visit.
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