Koishikawa Korakuen（小石川後楽園）
Edo-Period Garden Tranquility in the Heart of Tokyo Koishikawa Kōrakuen（小石川後楽園）is one of Tokyo’s oldest surviving gardens, a beautifully preserved example of an Edo-period strolling garden. Begun in 1629 by Tokugawa Yorifusa, the son of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, it was completed in 1669 by his son Tokugawa Mitsukuni, with the guidance of the Chinese Confucian scholar […]
Hamarikyu Teien（浜離宮恩賜庭園）
A Strolling Garden by Tokyo Bay with Shogunal History Hamarikyū Teien is a spacious Edo-period strolling garden located along Tokyo Bay. Originally designed by the Tokugawa shogunate, the garden reflects the power and refinement of the era. Its tidal ponds are unique—connected to the bay, the water levels rise and fall with the tide, creating […]
Rikugien（六義園 ）
A Classical Edo-Period Garden Rooted in Poetry Rikugien（六義園）is one of Tokyo’s most elegant and refined Edo-period strolling gardens, located in the quiet neighborhood of Komagome in Bunkyo ward. Built between 1695 and 1702 by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu—a samurai official under shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi—the garden was inspired by classical Waka poetry and originally featured 88 miniature scenes […]
Tokyo Imperial Palace Ninomaru Gardens（東御苑の二の丸庭園）
A peaceful Japanese garden in the historic heart of Tokyo The Tokyo Imperial Palace Ninomaru Gardens lie within the former second defensive circle of Edo Castle. Today, they are part of the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, open to the public and easy to reach from Tokyo Station. Historically, this area once held the […]
Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Teien（旧芝離宮庭園）
A Samurai Garden Amid Tokyo’s Skyline Kyū-Shibarikyū is one of Tokyo’s oldest surviving pond-strolling gardens (回遊式泉水庭園), created in the Edo period on land reclaimed from Tokyo Bay in 1658. Originally the residence of Ōkubo Tadatomo, a daimyō and official of the Tokugawa shogunate, the garden follows a layout typical of samurai-style architecture (武家造, Buke-zukuri). After […]
Happo-en（八芳園）
A Wedding Garden with Centuries of History Located in Tokyo’s Shirokanedai district, Happō-en blends timeless natural beauty with elegant modern use. Today, this historic site primarily serves as a picturesque backdrop for traditional Japanese weddings and banquets. Despite its popularity as an event venue, Happō-en welcomes casual visitors as well, offering access to its kaiseki […]
Mukojima-hyakka-en（向島百花園）
A rare Edo-period flower garden still blooming today Located in Tokyo’s Sumida Ward, Mukōjima-Hyakka-en is a unique historic garden built between 1804 and 1830. Unlike many Japanese gardens from the Edo period, this one was not created by a feudal lord or as part of a private residence. Instead, an antique dealer named Sahara Kikū […]
Katsura Rikyu（桂離宮）
An Edo-Period Masterpiece of Architecture, Tea Culture, and Poetic Garden Design Katsura Rikyū (桂離宮), also known as Katsura Imperial Villa or Katsura Detached Palace, is one of Japan’s most important cultural treasures. Built in the early Edo period for Prince Toshihito, the garden reflects his refined literary taste and includes many references to the classic […]
Sento Gosho (Sento Imperial Palace)（仙洞御所）
A Refined Imperial Garden Rooted in Poetry and Power Sentō Gosho is a historic strolling garden in Kyoto, originally created in 1630 as the retirement grounds of Emperor Go-Mizunoo. Though the palace buildings were lost to fire and never rebuilt, the garden remains a masterpiece of early Edo-period landscape design. The garden was created under […]
Shugaku-in Rikyu（修学院離宮）
Kyoto’s Imperial Garden Retreat with Spectacular Borrowed Scenery Shūgaku-in Rikyū is a unique imperial garden in Kyoto, featuring three separate gardens rather than a single cohesive layout. These gardens are connected by scenic gravel paths that wind through rice fields and farmland, creating a serene contrast to Kyoto’s more formal palace grounds. In the mid-17th […]