Kiyosumi Garden is a traditional Japanese landscaped Garden, donated to Tokyo City by the founder of Mitsubishi, and opened to the public in 1932. This park is well known for its cafefully placed garden rocks, some of which have been gathered from far and wide throuhgout Japan.

How to get there: A short walk from Kiyosumi Shirakawa Station (Oedo, Hanzoumon    Lines)
Admission Fee: 150 yen
Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00

Shinjuku Gyoen is one of Tokyo’s largest parks on 58 acres. It is a traditional style park with large grassed areas for picnicing and relaxing. It is a popular spot during Hanami. There is also a greenhouse. This is a lovely sedate park where you can get away from the city for a quiet afternoon.

How to get there: 10 minute walk from New South Exit of Shinjuku Station. Keep  walking past Takashimaya and Kinokuniya to find the entrance.
Admission Fee: 200 yen
Opening Hours: 9:00 to 16:30 (closed Mondays)

Kyu Shiba Rikyu is a traditional Japanese garden built on land reclaimed from the Tokyo Bay during the Edo period. The garden was opened to the public after the buildings were destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923. This is another tranquil spot and combines elements such as ponds and man-made hills to symbolize the sea and surrounding landscapes.

How to get there: Next to Hamamatsucho Station
Admission Fee: 150 yen
Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00

The Imperial East Gardens are a part of the innermost circles (honmaru and ninomaru) of the old Edo Castle which stood at the center of Tokyo. Edo castle was the home of Tokugawa Shoguns who ruled from 1603 until 1867. Nowadays the castle is gone and all that remain are the moats, gaurd towers and perimeter walls. Beautiful Japanese style garderns have been built at Ninomaru and you can also see the foundations of the former castle tower, which burned down in city-wide fires in 1657.

How to get there: A short walk from Otemachi Station (Tozai, Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Hanzoumon and Mita lines) Continue Reading

Hama Rikyu is an expansive traditionally landscaped park near Shiodome with lakes and a traditional tea houe in the middle. Perhaps the most distinctive aspect is the contrasting serenity of the Japanese garden with the towering modern structures of Shiodome in the background.

How to get there: 10-15 minute walk from Shinbashi or Shiodome Stations
Admission Fee: 300 yen
Opening Hours: 9:00 to 17:00

Institute for Nature Study is a quiet reserve situated near Meguro in the center of Tokyo. In contrast to some of the more landscaped gardens you will see, this reserve has been allowed to grow wild and has some lovely paths that meander through it.

The National Museum of Nature and Science runs this park with an aim of preserving some of Tokyos natural woodlands and flora.

How to get there: 10 minute walk from Meguro Station
Admission Fee: 300 yen
Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 (close Mondays)

Takao san offers beautiful scenery and sweeping views of the surrounding countryside and Tokyo on a clear day. There is a shrine at the top (600 meters above sea level) and a cable car will take you most of the way if you don’t feel like walking long distances. The trails are well marked and more of a walk than a hike. There are monkeys near the top which you can feed for a small fee. Continue Reading

Rikugien Park, built in 1700 by Yanagisawa Yohsiyasu, is one of the premier Japanese Style gardens in Tokyo. The park replicates scenes from famous Japanese poems. It is a nice park to meander through the various walkways and take in the time and effort spent in shaping each of these beautifully considered scenes.

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Koishikawa Korakuen is a smaller park but is beautifully landscaped in true Japanese style. It costs a small amount to enter but is well worth the negligible fee for the tranquility and beauty you will find here. This is also a stunning spot to bring a picnic.

It is particulary recommended during Hanami, Plum Festival,  when the blossoms are stunning, or during the late Autumn period when the leaves are changing color. The park dates back to the early Edo period. Continue Reading

Mount Mitake is a beautiful wooded mountain with a shrine at the top. The area has an abundance of nature walks of varying lengths and difficulties so that everyone can enjoy the beautiful scenery. Mitake is part of the much larger Chichibu Tama Kai National Park which covers some 1250 square meters.

You can opt to catch a cable car half way up the mountain and then hike the remaining 20-30 minutes. There is a little village along the way and the station itself is rather quaint. Continue Reading