Hamarikyu Gardens

There’s something quintessentially Tokyo about seeing skyscrapers looming in the distance while walking around a traditional Japanese garden. By that token, Hama-rikyu Gardens in Shiodome is by far the best place to experience the visual contrast of old and new Tokyo.

[Hamarikyu Gardens - image © Florentyna Leow]

Hamarikyu is a traditional Japanese landscape garden with a twist. Located in Shiodome right alongside Tokyo Bay, you’ll see towering skyscrapers while you’re walking in the garden or Hama-rikyu is a traditional Japanese landscape garden with a twist. Located in Shiodome right alongside Tokyo Bay, you’ll see towering skyscrapers while you’re walking in the garden or enjoying the view of the pond. There are many places that contrast the old and the new, but few scenes are as visually striking as what you can see at Hama-rikyu.

[Hamarikyu Gardens - image © Florentyna Leow]

The garden is pretty large and sprawling - around 250,000㎡ of land in total - and there’s much to see and explore in any season. One of its most unusual features are the seawater ponds, which change level with the tides. Worth visiting is Nakajima no Ochaya, a charming teahouse on the island in the middle of the pond, where you can relax over a cup of green tea and a Japanese sweet for an additional JPY500 or so.

[Hamarikyu Gardens - image © Florentyna Leow]

Unlike other Japanese landscape gardens in Tokyo, Hama-rikyu isn’t especially famous for its cherry blossoms or autumn leaves foliage - though it does have some nice gingko and maple trees that come into their own during fall. However, late February and early March see some truly fabulous plum blossoms blooming. If you’re traveling in Tokyo at this time of the year, it is worth making a quick trek out here.

[Hamarikyu Gardens - image © Florentyna Leow]

If one garden isn’t enough for you, a visit to Hama-rikyu can be combined with a visit to Kyu-Shiba Rikyu Garden, which is near Hamamatsucho Station. Both can be completed over the course of an afternoon.

English name:
Hama-rikyu Gardens

Japanese name:
浜離宮恩賜庭園

English address:
1-1 Hamarikyuteien, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0046

Japanese address:
〒104-0046 東京都中央区浜離宮庭園1-1

Opening hours:
9am-5pm (last entry 4:30pm)

Admission:
Adults: 300
65 years old and over: 150
Elementary school students and younger: free

Nearest Transport:
Subway: 5-minute walk from exit 10 of Shiodome Station on the Toei Oedo line.
Train: 12-minute walk from the Shiodome exit of Shimbashi Station on the JR Yamanote line.

Nearest Hotels:
Check availability and pricing for hotels near Hama-rikyu Gardens on Booking.com or Agoda.com.

Telephone:
+81-3-3541-0200

Website: Official Website (English machine translation)

Near To Here:
Hama-rikyu Gardens is located in Tokyo’s Shimbashi, Shiodome, Hamamatsucho and Shinagawa district. See our complete list of things to do in Tokyo’s Shimbashi, Shiodome, Hamamatsucho and Shinagawa district, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.

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