Parks & Gardens
Tokyo has more than 300 parks, nearly all of them small neighborhood spots. The more extensive parks and gardens are well worth your time as a respite from the street bustle.
Think of a trip to the best parks in Tokyo like a trip to a museum, only better, as the oldest gardens have been cultivated for literally centuries, handed down decade after decade by their artists.
Shinjuku Gyoen
- Google Maps
- Website
- JR Shinjuku Station, Yamanote Line, South Exit (10-minute walk)
Entrance fee: ¥500 (adults)
Shinjuku Gyoen is the Central Park of Tokyo—and yet so much more fascinating in its variety and diversity.
Its main attraction is scenic variety. A vast open green lawn covers the middle of the park, narrowing at the far end into a French-style garden, which itself slopes down into a Japanese garden and then breaks into more secluded trails of solitude winding through denser, dark forest. Discover a traditional teahouse in the middle of the gardens and a highly acclaimed greenhouse on the north end, near Shinjuku Gyoenmae subway station.
Seasonality is the second draw. There are flowers and trees blooming at every season of the year. See the website for a schedule. The May-June hydrangea season may mark the peak of the park's bloom.
+Variety
+Size
+Location
-None
=A must visit to one of Japan's six great parks.
Yoyogi
95.83
- Google Maps
- Website
- JR Harajuku Station, Yamanote Line, Takeshita Exit (5-minute walk)
Entrance fee: Free
Yoyogi Park is a popular weekend destination for locals, drawing both young and old with its simple open spaces and recreational facilities.
Its biggest draw is location: it's a 5-minute walk from the Harajuku shopping district.
There are regular and irregular events on the weekend at the events square, including a flea market, as well as some open recreational areas like a dog run and basketball court.
+Location
+Free
+Recreation facilities (basketball, etc.)
-Few scenic areas
=A nice place for a stroll during an excursion to Harajuku area.
Showa Memorial Park
- Google Maps
- Website
- JR Tachikawa Station, JC19 Chuo Line, North Exit (12-minute walk)
Entrance fee: ¥450 (adults)
This is the largest park in the Tokyo area, nearly twice as big as the second-largest, Mizumoto Park.
It's an easy trip from central Tokyo on the Chuo Line and well worth a full day of exploring.
The main attraction is scenic diversity. Like Shinjuku Gyoen, Showa is organized into dozens of smaller, self-contained areas featuring a different theme. The highlights are the Japanese garden, a 20-minute walk from the gate, and the seasonal flower gardens. A leisurely stroll around the entire park will take 2~3 hours.
+Massive
+Bike rental
+Outdoor pool area in summer
-A 30-minute train trip from central Tokyo
=If Japanese parks are high on the to-do list, then don't leave Tokyo without visiting Showa. The Tachikawa area isn't anything special, but after a long walk in the park, there are plenty of good restaurants and bars near the station.
Hamarikyu Gardens
- Google Maps
- Website
- JR Shimbashi Station, JY29 Yamanote Line, Exit on the Shiodome side and walk towards Shiodome Station
Entrance fee: ¥300 (adults)
Hamarikyu Gardens has two main attractions: compactness and accessibility.
If you're pressed for time but want to experience a traditional Japanese garden, you can see a lot in Hamarikyu in just an hour's time.
The other unique feature is the waterway access. A water ferry docks at Hamarikyu and connects with Asakusa. On a nice day, you can take a scenic ride through one of the main water arteries of Tokyo, landing you right next to Skytree and the shrine district.
+Compact
+Accessible
-Little diversity in scenes
-No recreational areas
=If you're running short on time but want to visit a Japanese garden, Hamarikyu is your spot.
Meiji Shrine Inner Gardens
- Google Maps
- Website
- JR Harajuku Station, JY19 Yamanote Line, Takeshita Exit. The entrance is located on the main approach to Meiji Shrine.
Entrance fee: ¥500
Meiji is the preeminent shinto shrine in Tokyo.
The shrine's inner gardens are unique in their history and design (see the website). The walking paths meander through dense forest, shadowing a pond home to a large variety of water birds.
In May, iris paddies bloom in bright blue and purple.
+Solitude
+Wildlife (bird-watching)
-The smallest of the parks on this list
=A perfect getaway for visitors looking for quiet time.
Rikugien Park
- Google Maps
- Website
- Tokyo Metro Komagome Station, Namboku Line (7 minutes on foot); Toei Mita Line, Sengoku Station (10 minutes on foot)
Entrance fee: ¥300
History pervades every carefully cultivated corner of Rikugien, one of the oldest parks in Tokyo, dating back to the early 18th century.
History and tradition aren't the only charms. It's one of the most compact of Tokyo's great parks, allowing you to stroll through a dozen or so different scenes in about an hour.
Alas, the cityscape around it is dull.
+Traditional design
+Compact
+Densely green
-Nothing of interest in the area
=If you enjoyed Hamarikyu and wants another experience with a denser, greener traditional park, Rikugien is a great option.
Imperial Palace East Garden
- Google Maps
- Website
- Otemachi Station, M18 Marunouchi Line, T09 Tozai Line, C11 Chiyoda Line, Z08 Hanzomon Line, Exit C13b. Exit from the stairwell, cross the street and enter the gardens through Ote Gate.
Entrance fee: free
The Imperial Palace gardens are the highlight of the Imperial grounds. The only other remarkable feature of the grounds is the moat, and honestly there's not a lot going on there in the water, though the walk around the moat is a pleasant two hours (beware of hordes of joggers).
Inside the gardens, there are a couple dozen sites of interest, most notably flower gardens of seasonal bloom. Winding paths lead to the ruins of Edo Castle, consisting of unremarkable stone foundations.
+Central location
+Seasonal flower bloom
-Little diversity in scenes
=Like Hamarikyu, the Imperial gardens are an easy excursion easily doable in a couple hours.
Odaiba Park and Beach
- Google Maps
- Website
- Odaiba-kaihinkoen Station, Yurikamome Line; Tokyo Teleport, R04 Rinkai Line
Entrance fee: Free
You'd never know Tokyo is a seaside city just by walking around its central sub cities. Getting to the sea takes a lot of effort in Tokyo. And most of Tokyo's coastline is rows of warehouses and industrial facilities.
Odaiba Park is one of the few places in central Tokyo to access Tokyo Bay.
The highlight is the beach area, which is busy with families in the summer months. With industrial sites around the bay, it's not the most pristine water. And swimming is generally not allowed. There are only a few special occasions when the water is open to swimmers. See the website for special events.
The park itself is just open walking areas without any remarkable greenery. The exception is the furthest point of Odaiba park, jutting out into the bay. It's a quiet area with a few trails and a sunken garden in the middle.
+Foot bathing beach
+Nearby shops and eateries
-Few green areas
=Perfect for mid-summer beach picnic. Enjoy the shopping malls afterwards.
Hibiya Park
- Google Maps
- Website
- Tokyo Metro Hibiya Station, Hibiya Line H08, Chiyoda Line C09; Station exit A10 or A14
Entrance fee: Free
Hibiya Park is also an option for visitors with little time for a longer excursion to Shinjuku Gyoen or Showa Memorial.
The points of interest are the pond areas, nicely designed in Japanese style and home to several species of herons and other birds.
One other point of interest is Hibiya Library, which has a permanent exhibit on Tokyo's history.
+Easy access
-Little variety
=A quick walk around the park will suffice and easily done as a side trip to the Imperial Palace area.
Todoroki Ravine Park
- Google Maps
- Website
- Tokyu Oimachi Line, Todoroki Station (3-minute walk)
Entrance fee: Free
Smack in the middle of an urban landscape, Todoroki Ravine Park stands as the most unusual park in Tokyo. Locals commonly refer to it as their 'oasis.'
Descend steps leading down from the shopping streets and you find yourself walking 500 meters down a long, verdant ravine leading to a traditional Japanese garden and a broad, grassy picnic area.
The walking path is narrow, with historical markers and photo spots along the path. That's the beauty of it--it's a languid, easy stroll, with exit steps if you have a thirst or need a snack.
+Near shopping
+Inside Tokyo
-Small
-Limited scenes
=Nice for couples looking for a romantic stroll and then a bite out in an area restaurant.