TOKYO GARDENS

Aoyama Cemetery, in Minato Tokyo, was Japan's first public cemetery. Today Aoyama Cemetery is a popular location for viewing cherry blossom in early April.

Asukayama Park is one of the major cherry blossom viewing spots in Tokyo. Yoshimune Tokugawa facilitated and opened Asukayama Park to the public as a part of his reformation in Edo Period. Asukayama Park, in Kita Ward, contains three museums: Asukayama Museum, Paper Museum and Shibusawa Memorial Museum. The nearest stations are Oji Station (south gate) on Keihin Tohoku Line and Oji Ekimae Station on Toden Arakawa Line or Asukayama Station.

Avenue of Gingko Trees - Meiji Jingu Gaien is one of the best places in Tokyo to see the stunning red, orange and yellow autumn leaves. The avenue lined with 146 Ginko trees is located within the Meiji Jingu Gaien, the outer precient of Meiji Jingu Shrine, and directly inline with the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery building.

Chinzan-so Garden is a beautiful tradtional Japanese garden, in Bunkyo Ward Tokyo. Today Chinzan-so Garden is primarily the garden of a restaurant and conference center, which covers 6.6 hectares, includes many significant historic momuments which are spread throughout the garden. These include a one thousand year old pagoda from the Hiroshima mountains, a three story pagoda built by the monks from Chikurin-ji Temple without using a single nail, Shiratama Inari Shrine was transferred from the World Heritage Site of Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto. The garden itself features a water fall, natural spring, large pond and 500 year old tree with a 4.5m circumference. Chinzan-so Garden was constructed for Baron Heitaro Fujita, on what had been the estate of Prince Aritomo Yamagata.

Hamarikyu Gardens are at the mouth of the Sumida River in Chuo Ward of central Tokyo. Hamarikyu Gardens is surrounded by Shioiri Pond, a sea water moat filled by Tokyo Bay. Hamarikyu Gardens is popular in both the cherry blossom season and the middle of November for the Autumn leaves.

Hibiya Koen (Park) is in the central Tokyo ward of Chiyoda, close to many of the government buildings. This makes Hibiya Koen very popular park on week days with office workers. On weekends many festivals and events are held in Hibiya Koen.

Higashi Ayase Park is a large park in Adachi Ward of Tokyo, which features a baseball ground, indoor swimming pool complex and a Japanese garden. At the end of the long linear section of Higashi Ayase Park is the martial arts hall, Tokyo Budokan.

Horikiri Shobu En (Horikiri Iris Garden) is a garden filled with Japanese iris neaxt to the Ayase River, in the Katsushika Ward of north eastern Tokyo. Horikiri Shobu En features over 6,000 iris of 200 varieties, which are at their best in June and particularly the beginning of June to the 20th of June during the Katsushika Iris Festival. Horikiri Shobu En is a ten minute walk from Horikiri Shobu En Station on Keisei Mainline.

Inogashira Park across Musashino and Mitaka in western Tokyo is a public park given to the people by the emperor in 1913 as the Inokashira Imperial Gift Park. Inogashira Park features a large lake and beautiful cherry blossom, in late March and early April, and is considered one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots. at the south western end of Inogashira Park is the Ghibli Museum.

Jindai Botanical Garden is at the edge of the Musashino plateau just above Jindaiji Temple in Chofu, Tokyo. Each of the 30 areas within Jindai Botanical Garden features different varieties of one kind of plant. Displays of ume, cherries, azalea, dogwood, peonies, roses, wisteria, etc. can be seen every month of the year. Jindai Botanical Garden features a total of 100,000 trees including 4,500 varieties.

Johoku Chuo Park is a sports park with a baseball field and athletics track in Itabashi Ward Tokyo. Johoku Chuo Park also contains the Moro Ruins which contain stone age recliecs and is a designated historical site by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. A replica Nara era straw roofed house has been constructed on the site.

Kaihin Park in Odaiba is a seaside park which features one of two beaches in mainland Tokyo, but swimming is not recommended as the water is rather polluted. Along the beach runs a boardwalk dotted with couples, as this is considered the most romantic spot in Tokyo.

Kasai Rinkai Park includes Tokyo Sea Life Park, Kasai Rinkai Park Ferris Wheel and a bird sanctuary, and was built on reclaimed land that includes two manmade islands, a viewing tower and a hotel. Great views of Tokyo Bay, Chiba and Tokyo Disneyland can be obtained from the top of the ferris wheel. Kasai Rinkai Park, which is particularly popular in cherry blossom season, is in Edogawa Ward Tokyo.

Kiba Park is a public park in Koto Tokyo, which features open space for events, tennis courts, playgrounds, walking jogging paths and BBQ facilities. Kiba Park is divided into two parts, north and south, but connected by a pedestrian bridge. The Museum of Contemporary Art is within Kiba Park.

Kinuta Park is in Setagaya, Tokyo. Kinuta Park is famous for is cherry blossom (sakura) viewing. Kinuta Park has at least three varieties Someyoshino, Yamazakura, and Yaezakura, which makes for a relatively long viewing season of over two weeks. Kinuta Park also features a baseball and soccer fields and cycling course.

Kitanomaru Park is next to Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens in central Tokyo. Walking through Kitanomaru Park is a pleasant and convenient way to get to Yasukuni Shrine. Kitanomaru Park features cherry blossom in late March and early April. Kitanomaru Park also houses the Nihon Budokan, which regularly stages martial arts competitions.

Kiyosumi Gardens is a traditional Kaiyu-shiki-teien style (strolling) Japanese garden in the Fukagawa District of the Koto Ward Tokyo. Kiyosumi Gardens, which covers 81,000 square meters, was created for Iwasaki Yataro between 1878-85. Kiyosumi Gardens is dominated by a large lake, which features three main islands, with one connected to the lake edge via a bridge. There are also several stepping stone pathways through the shollower parts of the lake. Kiyosumi Gardens also features a tea house.

Koganei Park is the second largest park in Tokyo and extends over four cities; Koganei, Kodaira, Nishitokyo and Musashino. Koganei Park is most famous for its cherry blossom in April and is considered one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots. Koganei Park also features the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architecture Museum.

Koishikawa Botanical Garden, also known as Tokyo University Botanical Garden, is a Botanical Garden affiliated with the Department of Chemistry and School of Science at the University of Tokyo and in the Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo. Koishikawa Botanical Garden features not only academic attractions such as the gingko tree that contributed to the discovery of its sperm, Isaac Newton's apple tree and Gregor Johann Mendel's grape tree, but also nice places for walk around. Koishikawa Botanical Garden covers 16 hectares and has a collection of 4,000 species of plants.

Koishikawa Korakuen Garden is a beautiful historic Japanese garden close to Tokyo University, who now owns the park, in the Bunkyo ward of Tokyo. Yorifusa Mito, a Daimyo, started construction of Koishikawa Korakuen Garden in 1629, but it was completed by his successor Mitsukuni Mito. Koishikawa Korakuen Garden is one of only seven sites in Japan that is designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and Special Historic Site. Koishikawa Korakuen Garden features a traditional Japanese garden in the Kaiyu-shiki-teien, strolling or promenade style with a pond and a pair of hills which represent Mount Lu in China.

Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden is one of the two surviving Edo Period Japanese gardens in Tokyo. Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden, also known as Kyu Shiba Rikyu Onshi Teien (Former Shiba Villa Gardens), is just the other side of Hamamatsucho Station from the World Trade Center Tokyo, where you can look down from its Seaside Top observation deck into the garden. Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden features a large central pond, Sensui, with four island and circular walking path going around the pond. There is a bridge that connects the largest island Nakajima to the shore.

Mizumoto Park, also known as Metropolitan Mizumoto Park and Mizumoto City Park, is the largest park in Tokyo covering over 92 hectares (227 acres). Mizumoto Park, which was established in 1965, is in Mizumoto District of Katsushika Ward of Tokyo. Mizumoto Park is particularly popular in cherry blossom season and when the Japanese Iris are in flower.

Nanushino Taki Park in Kishimachi District, Kita Ward Tokyo, features three waterfalls which are part of the famous Seven Falls of Oji as depicted by Hiroshige. Nanushino Taki Park was once the private garden of the Nanushi Hatano Family, who opened the park to the public in the Edo Period. After World War II Tokyo Metropolitan Government took over management of the park. The closest train stations to Nanushino Taki Park are Oji Station on JR Keihin Tohoku Line or Tokyo Metro Nanboku Line, and Ojiekimae Station on Toden Arakawa Line.

Otsuka Senju Cemetery, Bunkyo Ward central Tokyo contains the graves of many Scholars of Confucianism from the Edo Period.

Rikugien Garden is a beautiful traditional Japanese garden established in 1702 (Edo Period) along with the villa for Yoshiyasu Yanagisawa, which features the six elements from Japanese tradition. Rikugien Garden features a pond with islands and man made hills, which is typical of this sort of garden in the Edo Period. This is know as the Kaiyu-shiki-teien or strolling or Promenade Style. Rikugien Garden is held in high regard and is designated as a "Special Place of Scenic Beauty". Rikugien Garden was opened to the public in 1938.

Shiba Park is a park in Minato Ward, Tokyo, built around the temple of Zojoji. The park is between the Minato Ward offices and the Tokyo Tower. Many of the footpaths in the park offer excellent views of the Tokyo Tower.

Shin-Edogawa Garden is a beautiful tradtional Japanese garden, in Bunkyo Ward Tokyo. The Shin-Edogawa Garden, New Edo River Garden, is derived from the garden's close proximity to the Kanda River, which was called the Edo River until 1965. Shin-Edogawa Garden is the site of the second home of Hosokawa who was the head of the Kumamoto Domain at the end of the Edo Period. The site later became the main residence of the Hosokawa faimily.

Shinjuku Central Park is a functional park, which is very popular with the many office workers from the surrounding skyscrapers in Nishi-Shinjuku District. Shinjuku Central Park features a few cherry blossom trees, flowers and wide paved paths.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a large park and one of the most beautiful in Tokyo featuring Japanese, French and English styles. With 1,500 cherry trees, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a very popular location for viewing cherry blossom. The park overlaps both Shinjuku and Shibuya .

Showa Kinen Park, also known as Showa Memorial Park and Showa Commemorative National Government Park, is a large park which was established in 1983 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the emperor Showa. In December Showa Kinen Park features Christmas lighting in December and in the middle two weeks of November it features stunning Autumn leaves. Showa Kinen Park also features 11km of bike tracks and there are bicycles available for rent. Showa Kinen Park is west of central Tokyo and covers part of Tachikawa city and Akishima city.

Sumida Park, in Sumida Tokyo, is most famous for its cherry blossom and is considered one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots. Sumida Park derives its name from the Sumida River which flows along one side of the park.

Symbol Promenade Park is one of the parks in Odaiba featuring some outdoor artworks.

Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens, next to the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo once formed part of Edo Castle. Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens are kept in impeccable condition and certainly one of Tokyo's best gardens. Tokyo Imperial Palace East Gardens are particularly beautiful during the March and April plum and cherry blossom seasons. Entrance is free through a number of gates; most visitors use the Otemachi gate near the subway station of the same name.

Tokyo Imperial Plaza is the fore court to the Imperial Palace and one of the largest open spaces in Tokyo.

Tokyo Metropolitan War Memorial, also referred to as the Tokyo National Cemetery, is next to Rekisen Park in Bunkyo Tokyo. Tokyo Metropolitan War Memorial is a metropolitan facility to console the souls of people died in the World War II.

Toneri Park is a large park in Adachi Ward of Tokyo. Toneri Park is divided into an eastern and western sections by Ogubashi Highway, with an athletics stadium, tennis courts and a baseball ground on the western side and a garden style park on the eastern side with a large pond and a bird sanctury.

Ueno Park adjacent to the station, is home to most of the attractions in the area, including the Ueno Zoo and many museums including Tokyo National Museum, National Museum of Nature and Science, National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum and Tokyo Metropolitan Festival Hall. In cherry blossom season, Ueno Park is Tokyo's most popular spot for outdoor hanami parties. Ueno Park also features several temples and shrines including Bentendo Hall Temple, Kaneiji Temple, Kiyomizu Kannon-do Temple and Toshogu Shrine.

Ukima Park (Ukima ga Ike) is a metropolitan urban park that has Ukima ga Ike Pond at its centre, along with feature windmill. Ukima Park, in Kita Ward Tokyo, has an area of 115,786 square meters. Fishing can be done in Ukima ga Ike Pond. Ukima Park also contains baseball ground, tennis courts, Jyabu Jyabu Pond where people can swim, bird sanctuary, sakuraso (cherry blossom) garden gateball ground and square with play equipment for children.

Urban Agricultural Park also known as Toshi Nogyo Koen, is in the Shikahama District of Adachi Ward of Tokyo. Urban Agricultural Park is partly an educational resource for the public to learn about agriculture, with the park featuring fields, orchards and greenhouses. Urban Agricultural Park also features open space lawns, play equipment and a cycling track.

Wadakura Fountain Park is surrounded by one three sides by the moat of Edo Castle, or what today is referred to as the Tokyo Imperial Palace. Wadakura Fountain Park is a small functional park which features several water fountains.

Yoyogi Park is one of the largest parks in Tokyo, adjacent to Harajuku Station and Meiji Shrine in Shibuya.