Keio Mogusaen is a garden in Hino City, Tokyo, known for its seasonal flowers. It is a good place to see plum blossoms in early spring and colorful leaves in autumn. The garden has a long history and is a quiet spot away from the busy city.
Getting to Keio Mugusaen
Keio Mogusaen is easy to reach from central Tokyo. The closest station is Mogusaen Station on the Keio Line. You can take the Express to Kofu Station and transfer on the same track to the Local train for Mogusaen Station. From there, it’s a short but steep walk uphill to the entrance.
Seasonal Highlights
The best times to visit Keio Mogusaen are early spring and autumn. In February and March, the plum blossoms are in full bloom. In November, the maple trees turn red and yellow. The garden has winding paths, small ponds, and stone features. There are also several viewpoints where visitors can see the surrounding area.
History
Keio Mogusaen was established during the Edo period. Scholars and poets used to visit, and the garden has been a place to enjoy nature for a long time. It is still maintained as a historical site.
It was one of Edos flower gardens. Another flower garden that remained was the Mukojima Hyakkaen Garden in central Tokyo. Most of the other flower gardens did not survived the transition to Tokyo and the following war.
Secret Gardens
Mukōjima-hyakkaen
The name of the garden means “a garden with a hundred flowers that bloom throughout the four seasons”
Available as PDF
4.95$ Buy / Preview
Click for More Information
Explanations
[Bundle] Japanese Garden History
June 6, 2018 – Learn how gardens in Japan developed
Available as PDF
14$ Buy / Preview
Click for More Information
My Visit to Keio Mogusaen
I visited on a cloudy day in February that had promised to be warm. Well.. after climbing THAT hill to the garden I definitely felt warm!
After paying the entrance fee of 500 Yen (which is quite expensive compared to the gardens in central Tokyo, so be prepared and not disappointed later), more steep stairs welcomed me.
The whole garden is situated at the side of a hill in a few different layers. While it is the garden “of the hundred herbs”, there are really a lot plum trees, a few cherry trees and a few maple trees.
When the plum trees are at bloom, there will be no other trees and only a few shrubs carrying foliage. However, the flowers definitely make up for that!
On the central layer of the mountain is a small Japanese garden with tea house and a pond besides an old Japanese farmhouse. At least during the plum festival you can enjoy a sample of Yomogi tea (herb tea) or buy Amazake (a drink made of rice without alcohol) and a few different sweets. I didn’t buy the sweets this time although I was tempted!
Before I visited, I looked this garden up. So I know what to expect. As a plant lover and garden researcher, I really appreciated this visit. Some people though, may be disappointed to “only get this for getting so far out of the city”.
Please watch our video of the garden to know what to expect!
Keio Mogusaen is not as famous as other gardens in Tokyo, but it is worth visiting for its seasonal flowers and quiet setting if you like that. It is a good choice for those who want to see a historic garden without large crowds and enjoy the Tokyo countryside.
Plan Your Visit
Location: Hino City, Tokyo
Nearest Station: Mogusaen Station (Keio Line Local Service)
Best Time to Visit: February–March (plum blossoms), November (autumn leaves)
Admission: A small entrance fee is required (500 Yen as of Feb 2025)
Website: [Check the official website for current hours and events]
The garden has a pamphlet in English
Support our Garden Visits on Patreon!
