The 12 Most Beautiful Parks and Gardens in Tokyo

Shinjuku Gyoen is a 58.3ha (144 acres) garden with wide lawns, trees and ponds that is only a ten-minute walk from Shinjuku station. It was originally a residence of the Naito family of feudal lords, associated with the Takato domain in the Shinano province during the Edo period (1603–1868). Presently, it serves as a national garden under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Environment. The park boasts three distinctive styles: a French formal and English landscape to the north, and a Japanese traditional landscape to the south. Visit from Tuesdays to Sundays between 9am to 4pm for a small admission fee.

The Yoyogi Park is a large Western-style park that is a five-minute walk from the Harajuku Station and the Meiji Shrine. Yoyogi Park is on the site where the first successful powered aircraft flight in Japan took place on December 19, 1910 led by Captain Yoshitoshi Tokugawa. Now, it is one of the locals’ favourite parks, where you will see many rock music fans, jugglers, comedians and hobby groups. For no charge, you get to witness its stunning autumn leaves. Look out for the golden leaves of the many ginko trees.

The Imperial Palace East Garden is only a 10-15 minute-walk from Tokyo station. For no admission fee you get the opportunity to walk the grounds of the former Edo Castle and part of the current Imperial Palace. You also get close-up views of the enormous stones used to build the castle walls. Climb the ruins of one of the keeps, off the upper lawn, and visit the Museum of Imperial Collections that exhibits more than 9500 artworks owned by the imperial family.

Ueno Park is next to Ueno station and features about half a dozen museums, a zoo, a Toshogu Shrine and the Shinobazu Pond. The spring celebrations for its beautiful cherry blossoms and hanami happen here. Ueno Park was established in 1873 on lands that formerly belonged to the temple of Kan’ei-ji. The free admission park is a wonderful place to take the entire family. Photographers of all calibre will be fascinated by the thousands of trees, extensive lotus beds, marshland, shrubs and various species of winter birds.

Close to the Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station in Fukagawa is Kiyosumi Teien, another trail park. The park was originally the residence of a rich merchant during the Edo period. The land eventually changed ownership and in 1932 it was donated to the city of Tokyo and opened to the public. One attraction to watch out for are the stone paths set in the water called “isowatari”. Look out for fishes and turtles in the pond, and admire the beautiful reflections of the garden in the water.

Hama Rikyu is a beautiful landscaped garden where you can see towering buildings in the distance. The garden is a relaxing place for a romantic rendezvous away from the noisy city streets, and is also a good place to visit with the entire family. Like most parks in Tokyo, the land was the residence of a feudal lord during the Edo period. The park features amenities like seawater ponds that change level with the tides and a charming teahouse on an island where you can rest and take in the scenery. As an added bonus, the park’s trees are beautiful all year round.

Happo-en is a vast park in Minato District. The name means, ‘The Garden of Eight Views’ for its appeal in all seasons and angles. The spacious grounds provide a stunning backdrop for photos, and in fact, the garden is a popular choice for wedding parties and photo shoots. A restaurant serving kaiseki cuisine overlooks the pond and a teahouse offers tea ceremony etiquette lessons among other things. Call ahead to make reservations for their walking tours hosted on weekdays, which include a lunch at the restaurant and a tea ceremony. Recommended by Alicia Joy.

The Institute for Nature Study National Reserve is perhaps one of Tokyo’s best-kept secrets. The natural reserve (Shizen Kyoiku-en) is situated in the heart of Tokyo, near Meguro Station. The park is operated by the National Museum of Nature and Science, whose aim is to preserve the the forests and marshlands in Tokyo, but it is owned by the Ministry of Education. For a small fee, anyone can enjoy the natural beauty of the park. The grounds are also used for research and education.

Smack in the middle of the residential city ward of Setagaya and only a two-minute walk from Tokyu’s Todoroki Station, is Todoroki Valley. This park is an attractive green trail that leads through a narrow wooded valley along a small river and is only about one km (0.6mi) in length. It stretches from Todoroki Station, beneath Kampachi Dori, and towards the Todoroki Children’s Park. At the other end of the valley you will get an amazing view of the Todoroki Fudo Temple, some shrine structures and numerous cherry trees.

Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park covers an area of over 1250km (776mi) and is located in the Okutama region, the western-most part of Tokyo. The national park stretches out west from the city of Tokyo, covering the Saitama, Yamanashi, Nagano and Tokyo Prefectures. There are numerous hiking trails and ancient shrines that attract many adventurous visitors each year. Mount Mitake is one of the famous landmarks that showcases the unspoiled nature of the country. This park is the perfect destination for a day trip for those who need a break from the busy metropolis. It can be easily reached in less than two-hours from central Tokyo.

Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden, formerly Shiba Villa, is an oasis from where you can see towering sky-scrapers in the distance. Next to the Hamamatsucho Station, Kyu Shiba Rikyu has a landscaped garden with a pond and man-made hills that symbolise the ocean, lakes and mountains of the real world. The land once served as a home to various feudal lords and government officials during the Edo period but was opened to the public in 1924 as the Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden. There are circular walking trails that enable visitors to admire the garden from various perspectives.

Koishikawa Korakuen is a carefully preserved, painstakingly landscaped park that was established during the Edo Period. It is one of the oldest parks in Tokyo. The design and features take their cue from traditional Chinese aesthetics, which the commissioner obviously admired. The park is famous for its autumn foliage displays. Admission is 300 yen. Recommended by Alicia Joy.