A visit to the Hamarikyu Gardens, Tokyo

The summer is over in Japan (even though it is still hot) and we are looking forward to the beautiful autumn season in Japan. Even though in most of the regions of Japan the autumn foliage hasn't started yet, you can still enjoy beautiful nature at the moment.

For me October is one of the best months to explore Japan. Everything is still green and blooming and the weather is mostly good, too.

I used the good weather to explore the Hamarikyu Gardens, a traditional Japanese garden in the heart of Tokyo close to the emperor's palace.

Hamarikyu Gardens belonged to the famous shogun family Tokugawa and was used as a outer fortification and hunting area of the imperial palace. Due to its proximity to the sea you could also catch fish there. The garden underwent many changes in its design over the years until it finally received its present form under the Shogun Ienari. After the Second World War, the imperial family donated the property to the city of Tokyo.

Right after the main entrance (Otemon gate) you will see one of the main attractions of the garden: a 300 years old pine tree. The tree is really very impressive but the heavy branches need to be supported with wooden posts, otherwise they would break off.

After crossing a small wooden bridge you will find yourself standing in a huge field of flowers. Depending on the season you can always see different kind of flowers in this area of Hamarikyu Gardens. During my visit the fields were full of cosmos flowers and a huge cactus. October is the perfect time if you want to see cosmos flowers.  You can also find many different red spiders lilies throughout in the park in autumn.

In the heart of the garden is the lake Shioirinoike, which is a sea water lake. You will find many fish there, which you usually only see in the ocean. The lake even has a low and high tide, although the water level is automatically regulated by locks.

The garden also has three small tea houses, but only one allows visitors to enter. The Tsubame no Ochaya, the Matsu no Ochaya and the Nakajima no Ochaya are all reconstructed, because all suffered significant damage during the Second World War and afterwards.

In the middle of the lake lies the tea house Nakajima-no-ochaya, from which you have a beautiful view over the Hamarikyu Gardens and you can just relax a bit with a cup of green tea.

Something very special for this Japanese garden is that it has his own landing stage of the Water Bus Ferry, which travels from Asakusa via Hamarikyu to Hinode Port. The entrance fee for the garden is included if you use the ferry.

If you want to have a great view over the whole of the Hamarikyu Gardens, don't miss the chance to stop by the Caretta Shiodome building, just next to the garden. Take the elevator from the underground of the building to their Sky deck on the 46th floor. From there you will have a great view over the garden, the old Tsukiji fish market, the emperor's palace and even Odaiba with its beautiful Rainbow Bridge. The sky deck is free, but you can also use the chance to visit some of the nearby restaurants on the floor, which all have a great view.

Opening hours:
09:00 – 17:00 (closed from December 29 to January 1)

Entrance fee: 300 yen
Other notes : Most of the ways are wheelchair and stroller friendly

Address: Hamarikyu Gardens: 1-1 Hamarikyuteien, Chūō, Tokyo 104-0046

By train:
Shiodome station (Toei Oedo line & Yurikamome line)
Shimbashi station ( Ginza line, Asakusa Line, Yurikamome line & JR Line)
Hamamatsucho station (JR Line & Monorail)

By boat:
Tokyo Water Bus from Asakusa to Hamarikyu (ca. 35 min.)
Fee 980 Yen (park entrance included)