Tokyo 東京
Japan’s capital city, Tokyo, located on the country’s largest island, Honshu, has over 14 million residents who live within the Tokyo Metropolis. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes Japan’s second-largest city, Yokohama, is the largest metropolitan area in the world, with over 37 million people.
Tokyo, and indeed all of Japan, has a world-class public transport system. It moves a huge population, as well as visitors, efficiently. Visit Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station in the morning. You will see just how busy and efficient a train station can be. People walk fast yet orderly. They know exactly which direction to go.
Visitors will find convenience stores and vending machines, mostly selling drinks, are plentiful in Tokyo and throughout Japan. In fact, there’s one vending machine for every 23 people. You never have to worry about not being able to buy a drink when you are thirsty.
Tokyo is an ultra-modern city yet rich in tradition, and offers a seemingly unlimited choice of shopping, entertainment, culture, and dining to its visitors. There are so many excellent museums, historic temples, and gardens. Visitors will be pleasantly surprised to find Tokyo offers many attractive green spaces right in the heart of the city and close to train stations.
Tokyo Hamarikyu Gardens 浜離宮恩賜庭園
Surrounded by Tokyo’s skyscrapers and located just 3 km south of Tokyo Station, Hamarikyu Gardens offer a fascinating blend of beautiful green spaces and traditional Japanese landscaping against a modern city backdrop. The garden can be conveniently reached by a 10-minute train ride followed by a short walk from Tokyo Station.
Hamarikyu Gardens was built by the shogun Tokugawa in the Edo period (1603-1868). The garden is surrounded on all sides by seawater and is connected to Tokyo Bay by Shioiri Pond. The water level of Shioiri Pond, therefore, rises and falls with the tide.
Although surrounded by giant concrete towers as a contrasting backdrop, the garden boasts a serene atmosphere, plenty of green and nature, and beautiful, well-maintained traditional Japanese landscaping. Indeed, the garden is a hotspot for both tourists and residents alike. A relaxing stroll in the garden helps visitors release stress and slow down the pace of the day in the busy and congested Tokyo.
If you want to fully explore the 25-hectare Hamarikyu Gardens, you will need at least 2 to 3 hours to enjoy the gardens at a leisurely pace.
The Walk
Hamarikyu Gardens entrance is at the northern end of the garden, connected by Otemon Bridge 大手門橋. The entrance is 500m or an 8-minute walk in the western direction from Shiodome Station.
Take a leisurely stroll in any direction you like after entering the garden. Take note that this is a huge garden and you will need to spend at least 2 to 3 hours if you want to fully explore it. If you just want to enjoy your walk in a Japanese traditional garden, then head south from the entrance.
Want to discover more great walking locations? Check out the “By the Waters” blogs.
Surrounded by Tokyo’s skyscrapers and located just 3 km south of Tokyo Station, Hamarikyu Gardens offer a fascinating blend of beautiful green spaces and traditional Japanese landscaping against a modern city backdrop. The garden can be conveniently reached by a 10-minute train ride followed by a short walk from Tokyo Station.