Tokyo Gardens and Parks #1

When I first came to Japan I was always out looking for parks because I miss having a lot of greenery around and well Tokyo is not known for that. I think in one week I covered all the parks within an hours radius from my apartment. Japanese gardens and Bonsais are probably a typical image of Japan. This is my review of all the parks Ive been to over the past 4 years, more to come.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

Shinjuku gyoen national garden is one of the largest and most breathtaking gardens in all of Tokyo. Once a private residence of the Naito family during the Edo period. From 1903 to 1949 it served as a garden for the imperial family, before it was opened to the public in the early 1950s. The jurisdiction was then transferred first to the ministry of health and Welfare then to the Ministry of environment in January of 2001.

Covering 58 hectares, the garden Shinjuku Gyoen features three Garden types: An English Garden with wide lawns, a traditional Japanese garden complete with Tea houses and a Formal French Garden. Among the 20,000 species in the park, the half dozen Cherry trees species are the highlights especially from April. During the Hanami (flower viewing) season this park is usually very crowded with people having the traditional hanami  lunch under the beautiful trees in front of the artificial but still very beautiful lakes infested with the Japanese  koi. .

There are three gates into the Garden namely, Shinjuku gate ( 10 minutes from the JR new south exit), Okido gate ( Shinjuku Gyoenmae station) and the sendagaya gate ( 5 minute from the JR chuo-sobu line )

The park is open from 9am-16:30pm and the admission fee is 200yen for adults and 50yen for children. 

Despite being in the middle of metropolitan Tokyo, its the best way to get close to nature  and enjoy the changing season. For most of Tokyo dwellers it serves as an oasis in the middle of the busiest part of Tokyo, shinjuku. For travellers visiting Tokyo for the first time, shinjuku gyoen national garden is a good introduction to Tokyo. 

Yoyogi Park

The hanami crowd in yoyogi park

Another not-to-be-missed park in the heart of Tokyo, it is the fourth largest urban park in Tokyo. Sitting adjacent to Harajuku and the meiji jingu shrine in shibuya city. Blessed with its dense green forest and water scenery facilities, in good weather this is a great hangout spot. Especially after a hot day shopping in Harajuku or during the Saturday international festivals that are often held right across the park. On Sundays this place is vibrant with people dressed in their favourite anime character, and others who use this park to exercise their hobbies. The usual feature of the park are the Elvis-wannabes they've been there for almost 5 years now doing their trade. It attracts a lot of spectators and photographers. Inside the park is lively, people making videos probably for youtube, others having lunch or listening to an amateur rock band. Even the skaters have their own space to do a few tricks.
Yoyogi is best visited on a Sunday, if you don't mind the crowds. The closest station to Yoyogi park is Harajuku along the JR Yamanote line or the Chiyoda line. Its also reachable from shibuya, 10 -15minutes walk from Hachiko exit.
Another popular spot for Hanami , however it can get a bit rowdy sometimes with people drinking and partying under the trees unlike shinjuku gyoen national Garden. The sanitation facilities can get a bit too dirty and during the Hanami (flower viewing) season the queue can go for miles. I do not recommend this place for cherry blossom viewing (Hanami) or if you insisted on going then its wise to go earlier to secure a spot. Preferably somewhere where you wont get surrounded by other hanami goers or else you will have mobility problems.

Kiyosumi Teien Garden
 My favourite Japanese garden in all of Tokyo. Like most gardens in Tokyo, this also dates back to the edo-period, when it was a private residence of the  business tycoon, Kinokuniya Bonzaemon. During the kyoho period it was handed over to the lord of sekijuku, Kuze-Yamatonokami. Later on in the meiji period the founder of mitsubishi bought the garden to entertain his guests. In 1932 in was donated to Tokyo city and then opened to the public for recreational purposes.
The highlight of Kiyosumi Teien Garden are the stones that were collected from all over japan and placed around the pond. Might sound funny but there are some famous and valuable stones in the garden that were brought in from different parts of japan. Despite its size and location, the garden is very beautiful and peaceful, upon entering you will feel as though in are not in the middle of the Tokyo metropolitan. The pond is inhabited by kois, birds and curious tortoises, if you have potato chips or popcorn you can feed the fishes its not prohibited. This is a perfect example of a traditional Japanese garden.
There is a tea house and a traditional Japanese  restaurant within the garden, which require reservations.


pond in kiyosumi  teien garden

 It is reachable by both the Hanzomon and the oedo lines, Kiyosumi-shirakawa station. From the station it is less than 10 mins on foot. The entrance fee is around 400 to 600 yen depending on the number of people in a group or if you are visiting alone.

 Inokashira Park

I always think that inokashira park is a smaller version of the yoyogi park, the atmosphere is exactly the same. You will find all sorts of  artist, musicians and magicians, even a drama group rehearsing in the park. Located in one of the upscale and popular areas, kichijioji this park has a lot to offer. At the station you will come across hip-hop wannabe dancers bouncing left and right with their arm doing air waves, to the one man band that usually attracts a few by standers.



Keio Inokashira park

 From the kichijouji station the park is less than 10 minutes away, a beautiful large park lined with cherry trees and a lake right in the middle surrounded by walking paths. There is also a temple dedicated to the  goddess of property, good looks, entertainment and love, benzaiten. Legend has it that couples who are courting in this park will split up soon afterwards. In 1948, the award winning novelist, Osamu Dazai and his lover mysteriously committed suicide here.

The park was a gift from the emperor to the people, the first of its kind in Tokyo. Kichijoji is on the chuo rapid line, sobu line and the Keio inokashira line. The entrance is free however to get into the inokashira zoo a small fee is charged.

Ueno Park

Probably the biggest and most popular park in all of Tokyo. Complete with a zoo, museums and galleries, a shrine and pagodas, cherry blossoms and lotuses. It is home to Japans first zoological garden, dating back to 1882. Its biggest highlight use to be the pandas, was a gift from china however the last one died in 2008 leaving the zoo without its most popular attraction. Today the zoo is not exactly lively, the animals are a bit old however plans are underway to revive this once bustling zoo.

The museums on the other hand are the current highlights, each month the museums have special exhibitions bringing in arts from all over the world. Sometimes some of the fine paintings from Louvre.

The park is very famous for having nearly 1000 cherry trees, during the hanami season this park is just the perfect place to go.

map of Ueno park

Ueno park is along the Ueno station on the JR Yamanote line and the Ginza subway line. There are other trains that go to ueno. The easiest way to reach the park is by the "PARK EXIT" . Its visible from the exit and is  just 2 minutes away on foot.

Koishikawa Korakuen

Another traditional Japanese garden with strong Chinese influence in the design and landscaping. Adjacent to Tokyo dome, constructed started in early 1629 by Tokugawa Yorifusa, the feudal lord of Mito han. Unable to complete this garden, his successor, Tokugawa  Mitsukuni took over and named the garden Koraku-en after a famous Chinese teaching " a Governor should worry before people and enjoy after people". Thus the name Koraku-en means "enjoy afterwards".

compared to other gardens despite being one of the oldest gardens in Tokyo it is smaller in size. The traffic noise can be heard from within the garden. The whole garden can be explored in less than 30 minutes. On the opposite side of the entrance there is a garden hidden away, perfect place for a family picnic. The best time to visit is around November, when the garden turns yellow, red, orange. Don't miss the half moon bridge on the left side of the entrance. It is suppose to create a full moon with the reflection  on the water right beneath it.

The layout of this garden is similar to Kiyosumi Teien Garden but slightly smaller. Koishikawa Korakuen is 10 minutes away on foot from the idabashii station or from the Korakuen station along the namboku subway line. It opens from 9am til 5pm with a 300yen admission fee.