Where are they, the secret gardens of Tokyo? In the narrow streets of the old Edo, hidden behind high walls, most of Tokyo’s green gems were gardens of samurai residences. Tokyo became Japan’s capital with the beginning of the Edo period. During these peaceful times, the members of the warrior class became bureaucrats and administrators of the shogunate, and settled in picturesque estates around Tokyo.
In the Meiji period, most of these residences were turned into public gardens for everyone to enjoy, so if you look for a green and peaceful spot in noisy Tokyo, these are your choices.