Hamarikyu: A Green Escape in the Heart of Tokyo
- Published on : 16/09/2026
- by : Phoebe
- Youtube
Hamarikyu
@Dick Thomas Johnson sur Flickr, CC BY 2.0
Just a few meters away from the busy avenues of Shiodome, the scenery suddenly changes. Behind its gates, Hamarikyu Garden unfolds with ponds and tree-lined paths, with Tokyo Bay on one side and skyscrapers on the other. It is a typically Tokyo contrast, best discovered at a leisurely pace as you explore the garden. Discover it with the Japan Experience team.
A Garden at the Foot of the Skyscrapers
From the entrance, the towers of Shiodome remain visible behind the trees. Yet just a few steps further, the scenery changes: the paths move away from the buildings and follow the large Shioiri-no-ike, a pond fed by the waters of Tokyo Bay.
Here, the water level changes with the tides. Small bridges connect the different parts of the garden, allowing visitors to cross from one side to the other, while carefully pruned pine trees punctuate the landscape.
You quickly realize that Hamarikyu is not a garden to simply tick off your list. It is better suited to a leisurely stroll without a set itinerary: follow a path, cross a bridge, stop for a few minutes by the water, then continue on your way.
Hamarikyu
@Akupsyy on Flickr, CC BY 2.0
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Following in the Footsteps of the Tokugawa Shoguns
Looking at the surrounding buildings, it is hard to imagine that Hamarikyu was once closely associated with the power of the Tokugawa shoguns.
Developed during the Edo period (1603–1868), the grounds served as a residence and place of leisure for the shogunal family. Several features of the garden still evoke its past, including its pond and historic structures.
In the middle of the water, Nakajima-no-ochaya naturally catches the eye. This traditional tea house, set on a small island accessible by bridge, is one of the best places to take a break during your visit!
Hamarikyu
@Unsplash
Inside, you can enjoy matcha served with a Japanese sweet, while looking out over the garden through the windows.
The setting is, of course, very different from a typical Tokyo café. There is no music, just the pond and trees in front of you to enjoy.
Our tip? Rather than visiting the tea house as soon as you arrive, save it for the middle or end of your stroll. After walking around the pond, the matcha is even more enjoyable, especially in autumn, when the maple trees turn red.
Matcha au jardin Hamarikyu
@bsterling sur Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
All the Way to Tokyo Bay!
As you continue towards the southern part of the garden, the trees gradually open up onto the bay. Boats pass in the distance as the cityscape comes back into view. This is also one of Hamarikyu’s distinctive features! Unlike many Japanese gardens located away from the city, this one maintains a constant connection with Tokyo.
A carefully pruned pine tree may have office buildings as its backdrop, while a traditional garden path can lead you to the waters of the bay just a few minutes later.
To extend your stroll, you can head to the nearby pier and take a boat to Asakusa or Odaiba. It is a great way to continue exploring Tokyo from the water.
A cruise in Tokyo Bay
@Unsplash
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A Garden That Changes with the Seasons
Although autumn is our favorite season here, thanks to its beautiful colors, Hamarikyu is worth visiting all year round.
The first blooms appear at the end of winter with plum blossoms, followed by cherry blossoms, azaleas and peonies in spring.
In autumn, the trees gradually take on their seasonal colors, giving the paths around the pond a completely different feel. The garden also hosts seasonal events, including nighttime illuminations in autumn.
Even in winter, when flowers are less abundant, the pine trees, ponds and silhouettes of the surrounding buildings create a very different landscape from the one you see in spring.
Hamarikyu au printemps
@Ayu Oshimi sur Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Address: 1-1 Hamarikyūteien, Chūō-ku, Tokyo
Access: Shiodome Station (Ōedo Line / Yurikamome), around 7 min on foot; Tsukijishijō Station (Ōedo Line), around 7 min on foot; Shimbashi Station, around 12 min on foot
Opening hours: Daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; last admission at 4:30 p.m.
Closed: December 29–January 1
Admission: 300 yen
Want to continue exploring? Visit three of Tokyo’s most beautiful gardens with Japan Experience!
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