Hamarikyu Gardens Palace

Address: 1 Chūō-ku, Tokyo 104-0046, Japan (Hamarikyū Gardens)

Website: https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/park/format/index037.html

Hours: Daily 9:00am-5:00pm (last entry 4:30pm); closed Dec 29-31

Admission: Adults ¥300, children discounted; match prices on arrival

Hamarikyu Gardens is a landscaped Edo-period garden in Chuo, central Tokyo, featuring a large tidal pond, traditional teahouse and promenaded lawns. The site occupies roughly 25 hectares and preserves garden layouts developed during the Tokugawa shogunate.

Key features include a seawater tidal pond connected to Tokyo Bay by sluice gates and an island teahouse that can be reached by bridge for refreshments and views. The garden mixes open lawns and planted areas and is notable for seasonal displays such as cherry blossom and autumn foliage.

The site originated as a shogunal garden in the Edo period and was used for official recreation and duck hunting by the Tokugawa family; later it passed through different ownerships and was preserved as a public garden. Many of the garden’s features date to the Tokugawa era with subsequent restoration and conservation work.

Hamarikyu sits on reclaimed land in central Tokyo near the Shiodome and Ginza districts, adjacent to the Sumida River estuary and within walking distance of Shimbashi and Tsukiji.

• Size and pond: The gardens cover roughly 25 hectares and include a seawater tidal pond that rises and falls with Tokyo Bay tides.
• Best times to visit: Best visited in late March to early April for cherry blossom and in autumn for fall colours; the tea house on the island offers a traditional rest stop within the garden.

What to See#

• Nakajima tea house: A tea house on a small island in the central tidal pond where visitors can purchase tea and sit while viewing the pond and gardens.
• Tidal pond (Shioiri-no-ike): The large tidal pond fed by Tokyo Bay and connected by sluice gates, forming a seawater feature within the garden and used historically for fish and waterfowl management.

Hamarikyu Gardens is a short walk from Shimbashi Station (JR, Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Toei Asakusa Line) - about 12 minutes - or from Shiodome Station (Oedo Line), which is 8-10 minutes on foot. The water-bus terminal at the gardens connects to Asakusa and Odaiba for a scenic approach.

• Take the water bus (Tokyo Cruise) from Asakusa or Hinode Pier for a scenic arrival that drops you at the park's moat-side landing.
• Visit the restored teahouse Nakajima no Ochaya on the central island for matcha in a traditional setting - it's a short walk from the main entrance.
• Go early on weekday mornings for quieter paths and better light for photography, especially around the tidal pond.