Hamarikyū Garden eBook – Explore Tokyo’s Edo-Period Seaside Garden
I proudly present our new eBook in the “Famous Gardens of Tokyo” series.
Hamarikyū Garden – Edo Period Seaside Garden
Hamarikyū is not only a Japanese garden but also a large park on the edge of Tokyo Bay. Like many gardens in Tokyo, it dates back to the Edo period. The Southern Garden is a pond-strolling garden, while the Northern Garden was added later when the land belonged to the Imperial Family.
Unlike Koishikawa Kōrakuen, where garden parts are separated by hills or trees, Hamarikyū feels wide and open. From several small hills, visitors can overlook large sections of the garden, giving it a very different character.
Unique Features of Hamarikyū
Hamarikyū has several features found almost nowhere else. The duck hunting sites, for example, were exclusive to shoguns and the Imperial Family, and only Hamarikyū still preserves them. Another rarity is the use of tidewater ponds, a feature Hamarikyū shares only with Shibarikyū. The ponds are connected to the sea through the Sumida River estuary, so seawater fish still live there today.
Shoguns often fished along the Daisensui pond, and one story tells of Morihime, daughter of Shogun Ienari. While fishing from the pavilion, she once said the sun set too early—she enjoyed her time in the garden that much.
Historical Changes
The garden was used by generations of shoguns. Each one made changes, adding houses or redesigning parts of the grounds. Fires, earthquakes, and World War II destroyed many of the original structures, but Tokyo is restoring the great tea houses along the Daisensui pond.
Tradition and Modernity
Hamarikyū is one of Tokyo’s green gems, located near the business districts of Shimbashi and Ginza. Here, skyscrapers rise above the garden, creating a strikingly modern version of shakkei (borrowed scenery).
Another point to note is the garden’s proximity to the former Tsukiji Fish Market, which has since been relocated across the bay. Visitors should keep this in mind when planning their trip.
Get the Hamarikyū Garden eBook
Our 20-page Hamarikyū Garden eBook explains every highlight in detail and includes scenic photographs. Whether you plan to visit in person or want to explore from home, it’s an ideal guide—delivered as a PDF for only $4.95.
Hamarikyū Teien Garden Guide
This eBook offers insights into the design, symbolism, and historical background of Hamarikyū Teien in Tokyo.
Perfect for lovers of Japanese gardens, Edo-period culture, and quiet urban escapes.
Learn more before you visit—or revisit from home.
Visiting Tokyo? Take your Koishikawa Kōrakuen experience to the next level by booking a guided tour with us!
With twelve years of professional landscaping experience under her belt, Anika Ogusu is your perfect guide to the world of Japanese gardens. Her love of nature began early, in the woods near her childhood home and the garden of her grandmother’s house. During her teenage years she developed a strong interest in Japanese culture, and after university she decided to combine her love of Japan and gardens into a profession. Anika started her career as chief gardener in charge of the perennial valley at the Botanical Garden in Hamburg, Germany, then moved to Tokyo in pursuit of her dream. For two years she apprenticed under local landscape designers and learned the art of Japanese garden design, construction and maintenance. Now, in partnership with Real Japanese Gardens (www.japanesegardens.jp), her wish is to spread the magic of Japanese gardens to the rest of the world. Her in-depth guide books on gardens throughout Japan are available in eBook format or paperback. In her free time, Anika enjoys exploring her adopted country (especially green moss gardens), and soaking up nature and any details that interest her.
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With twelve years of professional landscaping experience under her belt, Anika Ogusu is your perfect guide to the world of Japanese gardens. Her love of nature began early, in the woods near her childhood home and the garden of her grandmother’s house. During her teenage years she developed a strong interest in Japanese culture, and after university she decided to combine her love of Japan and gardens into a profession. Anika started her career as chief gardener in charge of the perennial valley at the Botanical Garden in Hamburg, Germany, then moved to Tokyo in pursuit of her dream. For two years she apprenticed under local landscape designers and learned the art of Japanese garden design, construction and maintenance. Now, in partnership with Real Japanese Gardens (www.japanesegardens.jp), her wish is to spread the magic of Japanese gardens to the rest of the world. Her in-depth guide books on gardens throughout Japan are available in eBook format or paperback. In her free time, Anika enjoys exploring her adopted country (especially green moss gardens), and soaking up nature and any details that interest her.
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