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 Shu Shunsui.
Like many kaiyu-shiki (strolling) gardens, it is built around a central pond, with a circular path that reveals a series of carefully composed scenes inspired by famous landscapes of China and Japan. Every few steps reveal a new perspective—bridges, islands, and stones placed to create harmony and surprise. The pond is fed by the Koishikawa River, which gives the garden its name (“small stone river”).
Despite being nestled beside the Tokyo Dome, an amusement park, and the Bunkyo Civic Center, the garden feels like a quiet oasis in the heart of the city. From within the garden, the contrast between historical tranquility and modern Tokyo heightens its charm.
Read more in our eBook!
Koishikawa Kōrakuen Garden Guide
This eBook explores the design and history of Koishikawa Kōrakuen in Tokyo.
Perfect for garden enthusiasts, urban explorers, and cultural travelers.
Discover this peaceful Edo garden nestled beside the bustle of modern Tokyo.
Learn more before you visit—or revisit from home.
Read more in our Blog:
Gallery
eBook Review:
Directions
How to get to the garden
To get to the Koishikawa gardens, you can either go directly to Koshikawa station (小石川駅) with the Marunouchi or Namboku line or take the Sobu line or Mita line to Suidobashi station (水道場所).
But the nearest Station is IIdabashi, which is served by the Sobu-Line, Tozai-Line, Namboku-Line, Yurakucho-Line and Oedo-Line.
Address
- EN: 1-6-6 Koraku, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
- JP: 東京都文京区後楽1-6-6
Opening times
- 9:00 – 17:00 (last entry at 4:30pm) Closed around New Year between December 29th and January 1st.
Admission fee
- Adults: 300 yen
Facilities & Accessibility
- Garden Shop
- Restaurant with Tea House: Kantokutei
- Multipurpose Toilets (in Kantokutei and East Gate) with Ostomate
- The garden is partly accessible with wheelchair
- The wheelchairs provided by the garden work best on the gravel in the garden.
- The tea house is barrier-free
Best time to visit
- End of March/ Beginning of April for Cherry Blossoms.
- In Mid-April when the wisteria bloom.
- In May when the irises bloom.
- End of November/ Beginning of December during autumn colors.
No Comments on “Koishikawa Korakuen（小石川後楽園）”
The comment section is closed.