The Tokyo Gardens "Stamp Rally" 東京スタンプラリー
Rikugien under the koyo
Ph.L
Collect stamps at 9 historic gardens of the capital!
Every autumn, the city of Tokyo organizes a "Stamp Rally", a crazy race to collect stamps while exploring the nine gardens of the capital, grouped in the collective Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association. The goal? Collect a stamp from at least five of the gardens to try to win a prize. It's a great way to enjoy the colors of autumn while having fun!
An initiative to promote all the gardens
Organized every year when the momiji (maple leaves) change color, the Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association "Stamp Rally" was first created to respond to inequality!
Although each of the gardens is known for their beauty, some of them tend to be more popular with the public than others. Koishikawa Koraku-en, Rikugi-en and Hama-Rikyu; these exceptional gardens are much more visited than the others! It's an inequality brought about mostly due to the lack of visibility of the more modest gardens; and one that the city of Tokyo intends to fix.
Korakuen in autumn
Ph.L
To encourage people to visit all of the gardens, and not just the big names, the Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association has set up a stamp hunt! In the shade of the momiji, participants must go to at least five of the gardens of the association to try to win one of the prizes on offer. It's an initiative that seems to be working, since more and more people are participating as time goes on!
How does it work?
To participate in the rally it's very simple: pick up a stamp book and get a stamp each time you enter one of the nine partner gardens. You need to visit at least five of them.
The stamp book is available free of charge at the entrance to each garden or at surrounding JR stations, and the filled book must be sent before December 14th to the address provided by the association.
A random draw is then be held to designate the winners of the following prizes:
- 30 day passes to access the nine historic gardens
- 100 green tea vouchers, valid in all partner gardens
- 20 sets of photos of the Tokyo Gardens
- 50 mugs
- 10 notebooks
A stamp rally booklet
A bonus gift is also being offered to the first 10,000 participants: a new calendar featuring the most beautiful shots of the nine gardens of Tokyo. Hurry, the hunt ends on December 9th!
Partner gardens
It's possible to visit all the gardens on the list. Although they're quite far apart, it's very easy to access them since most gardens are well served by JR lines.
- Rikugi-en(Bunkyo-ku)
Located close to Komagome station, Rikugi-en garden is very popular in autumn for its many momiji that are lit up when the sun sets.
Address : 6-16-3Hon-komagome, Bunkyo-ku, 113-0021 TokyoHours :9am - 5pmFee :300yenAccess : a few minutes walk from Komagome Station (Yamanote, Namboku lines)
- Kyu-Iwasaki Tei(Taito-ku)
Home of the former residence of the Echigo-Takahata clan, Kyu-Iwasaki Tei Garden is one of the least known gardens on the list. And yet, 1.7 hectares of its grounds are open to the public. It would certainly be a shame not to enjoy it...
Address :1-3-45Ike-no-hata, Taito-ku 110-0008 TokyoHours :9am - 5pmFee :400 yenAccess :3-minute walk to Exit 1 of Yushima Station (Chiyoda Line)
Kyu-Iwasaki Tei Garden
Flick/ hiroaki.hirano
- Tonogayato (Kokubunji-shi)
Established in the 1910s, Tonogayato Teien Garden is famous for its tea house surrounded by maple trees.
Address :2-16Minami-machi, Kokubunji-shi 185-0021 TokyoHours :9am - 5pmFee :150yenAccess :2-minute walk to the south exit of Kokubunji Station (JR Chuo Line)
Tonogayato Gardens
Flick/ TANAKA Juuyo
- Koishikawa-Korakuen(Bunkyo-ku)
One of Tokyo's most visited gardens, Koishikawa-Korakuen is particularly appreciated in fall for its gold and deep red colors.
Address :1-6-6Koraku, Bunkyo-ku 112-0004 TokyoHours :9am - 5pmFee :300yenAccess :a few minutes walk from Korakuen Station (Marunouchi, Namboku lines)
- Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu(Minato-ku)
Along with Korakuen Garden, Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu is one of the oldest gardens in Tokyo. Built in the seventeenth century, its aestheticism is typically Japanese.
Address :1-4-1Kaigan, Minato-ku, 105-0022 TokyoHours :9am - 5pmFee :150yenAccess : In front of Hamamatsucho Station north exit (Yamanote, Keintohoku lines)
Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu garden
- Hama-Rikyu(Chuo-ku)
A family garden of the Tokugawa clan, Hama-Rikyu is one of the largest gardens in Tokyo to visit as, 25 hectares are open to the public!
Address :1-1Hama-rikyu teien Chuo-ku 104-0046 TokyoHours :9am - 5pmFee :300yenAccess : 5-minute walk fromthe Nakano-gomon exit of Shiodome Station (Oedo, Yurikamome lines)
- Kiyosumi(Koto-ku)
Former home of one of the most influential merchants of the Edo period (1603-1868), Kiyosumi Garden now displays a typical Meiji era aestheticism (1868-1912) since it was redesigned during this period.
Address :3-3-9Kiyosumi, Koto-ku 135-0024 TokyoHours :9am - 5pmFee :150yenAccess : 3-minute walk to Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station (Oedo, Hanzomon lines)
Teahouse Ryo-tei, located on one of three islands in the garden Kiyosumi Koen Tokyo.
DR
- Mukojima-Hyakkaen (Sumida-ku)
Located in western Tokyo, Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden is famous for its impressive amount of trees. With its apricot trees and paths lined with flowers, this garden contains one of the largest varieties of plants!
Address :3-18-3Higashi-Mukojima, Sumida-ku 131-0032 TokyoHours :9am - 5pmFee :150yenAccess : 8-minute walk from Higashi-mukojima Station (Tobu Isezaki Line)
Mukojima-Hyakkaen garden
- Kyu-Furukawa (Kita-ku)
Located a few minutes walk from Rikugi-en, Kyu-Furukawa charms visitors with its atypical layout: a manor house surrounded by roses, leading to a traditional Japanese garden!
Address :1-27-39Nishigahara, Kita-ku 114-0024 TokyoHours :9am - 5pmFee :150yenAcces : 7-minute walk to Nishigahara Station (Namboku Line)
Kyu-Furukawa Garden Manor
Flick/ vicjuan
