Parks and the outdoors in Tokyo

Parks and the outdoors in Tokyo

1. DoShinagawa

   Aqua Park Shinagawa

   アクアパーク品川

   Aquarium with dolphin and seal shows and hundreds of species of fish. There is also a carousel ride.

   Mon-Fri 12:00-22:00; Sat 10:00-22:00; Sun and holidays 10:00-21:00·Adults ¥1,800; Elementary and middle school students ¥1,000; Kids over 4 years old ¥600

2. SeeTaito

   Asakura Museum of Sculpture

   朝倉彫塑館

   Sculptor Asakura Fumio (Artist name Kōso 1883-1964) designed this atmospheric house himself. It combined his original Japanese home and garden with a large studio that incorporated vaulted ceilings, a 'sunrise room' and a rooftop garden with wonderful neighbourhood views. It's now a reverential museum with many artist's signature realist works, mostly of people and cats, on display. This is a wonderful place to stroll and contemplate the meaning of life. You must remove footwear before entering the museum, but cannot go barefoot, so you must wear socks.

   Tue Wed Fri-Sun 09:30-16:30·Adult ¥500, student ¥250

3. DrinkSumida

   Asakusa Smile Bar & Cafe

   浅草スマイルバー&カフェ

   Founded by a Tokyo resident returning from abroad. Located across the Sumida river from the Asakusa tourist district. Clientele has many expats and English-speaking Japanese. Periodically hosts an English-language comedy show.

   Closed · opens 5 pm

4. BuyMinato

   Azabu-Jūban

   麻布十番

   A quieter commercial district to the southeast of Roppongi Hills, and a good place to spend a lazier afternoon browsing through shops and enjoying the local cafés. The surrounding residential area is popular among professional expats, so expect to see many international families as you walk through.

5. EatMinato

   Daigo

   醍醐

   Exquisite vegetarian or vegan "shojin ryori" cuisine. This is the traditional Buddhist spin on kaiseki. Gracefully served by attentive kimono-clad staff. Small private dining rooms look out onto Japanese gardens. Very expensive, but a top-class experience.

   Daily: 11:30-14:00, 17:00-20:00·Lunch ¥10,000, dinner ¥20,000-25,000 per person

6. SeeChuo

   Hama-rikyū Gardens

   浜離宮恩賜庭園

   It was built by 17th-century shoguns for their private enjoyment. Hama-rikyu is now a public walking garden with an all-season range of flowers and flowering trees. The highlight is the tea house, picturesquely set on a small island in the middle of a pond, where green tea and sweets are available starting at ¥500, and ¥1000 for a set. The garden is next to Tsukiji fish market. A boat which runs up the Sumida River to Asakusa used to depart from inside the garden, but has been suspended indefinitely.

   Park admission ¥300 (age 65+ ¥150, primary school children free)

7. SeeShinjuku

   Hanazono Shrine

   花園神社

   More remarkable for its location than its appearance, but it's a nice place to take a breather. There's often a flea market in the surrounding park on weekends.

8. SeeBunkyo

   Hijiri-bashi Bridge

   聖橋

   On the Kanda river (神田川), on the border between Bunkyō and Chiyoda wards. It offers one of the best spots in Tokyo to see trains, three lines crossing each other (on the west, so better seen in the afternoon). Akihabara district in 500 m/10 min away to the east. Its name means Saints bridge. One side at Temple of Confucius Yushima Seido (湯島聖堂), the other side at cathedral of the Japanese Orthodox Church St. Nicholas Church (ニコライ堂, Nikorai do).

9. SeeChiyoda

   Imperial Palace

   皇居 Kōkyo

   Surrounded by a series of moats and high walls, the site of the former Edo Castle has been the official residence of the Japanese imperial family since 1868. Reputedly the most expensive square kilometre in the world, which during the height of Japan's bubble was estimated to be worth slightly more than California. The inner palace gardens and buildings are closed to the general public except on the second day of the New Year (January 2) and the Emperor's birthday (February 23), when the imperial family makes a public appearance, and the emperor gives a speech to his assembled subjects. However, foreigners can also apply online to join a free guided tour (M-F at 10:00 and 13:30). If you're feeling lucky, you can also try just showing up at the Imperial Household Agency office located in the northwest corner of the Imperial Palace Park, which is open 09:00-12:00, 13:00-14:00; if there's space, you can join a tour on the same day. Tours are conducted only in Japanese, but electronic audio guides (in English) will be lent to foreign visitors free of charge. At the end of the tour, visitors wishing to enter the East Gardens (see next entry) will be given entrance cards and allowed through to the gardens via a private gate, allowing them to bypass the lines at the main Ōte-mon entrance; pay attention to the announcement in Japanese and queue up as directed.

10. SeeChiyoda

    Imperial Palace East Garden

    Kept in impeccable shape, the gardens of the Imperial Palace are particularly beautiful during the March and April plum and cherry blossom seasons. During the Edo period, this was the heart of the Shogun's castle, and you can see the tenshudai, the raised platform where the tenshukaku (main keep) was once located, and an open field that was once the site of the honmaru goten, the Shogun's main residential palace. Entrance is free through a number of gates; you will be given a plastic entrance card at the gate, which you are obliged to return upon leaving; most visitors use the Ōte-mon (大手門) gate near the Ōtemachi subway station (exit C10). Also an easy walking distance from Tokyo station.

    Open daily except Mondays and Fridays

11. SeeSumida

    Japanese Sword Museum

    刀剣博物館

    Display of all types of Japanese art swords and fittings, some of them centuries old. Beautiful view from balcony on 3rd floor over Kyū Yasuda Garden. Quite hefty entrance fee, but a must see for anyone interested in Japanese swords.

    Tue-Sun 09:30-17:00·¥1,500

12. BuyChiyoda

    KITTE

    JP Tower

    The former Japan Post headquarters have been renovated into a trendy building with many shops and restaurants. The top roof is an open garden giving an amazing view on Tokyo Station, perfect for watching bullet trains come and go.

    Closed · opens 11 am

13. SeeChiyoda

    Kitanomaru Park

    北の丸公園, kita-no-maru kōen

    Connected to the East Gardens on the north side is this park. Offering much of the same, it is a convenient way to get to Yasukuni Shrine. The park also houses the Nippon Budōkan (日本武道館), which regularly stages martial arts competitions and live concerts, as well as the Kagaku Gijyutsukan (科学技術館, Science museum).

14. SeeBunkyo

    Koishikawa Botanical Garden of the University of Tokyo

    小石川植物園

    Not one of the great gardens of Japan and sometimes a bit shabby, but a pleasant stroll with interesting trees, a medicinal herb garden and several ponds. Not to be confused with Koishikawa Korakuen.

15. SeeBunkyo

    Koishikawa Kōrakuen

    小石川後楽園

    Laid out in the 17th century, this splendid traditional garden boasts a large collection of trees and flowering plants that provide touches of beauty all year round. Winding paths, wooded hills, ponds teeming with ducks and fish. The place can be a little crowded at certain times of year (such as during the cherry blossom season in late March-mid April), but there's plenty of room for everyone.

    09:00-17:00 (last entry 16:30), closed Dec 29-Jan 1·¥300

16. BuyBunkyo

    La Qua

    ラクーア

    La Qua is a new shopping mall with some attractions attached. It opened in 2003, replacing a section of the amusement park at Tokyo Dome City. There are boutiques, a grocery store, restaurants, a hairdresser, massage salon, and gym. In addition a roller coaster runs along the roof, and there are other amusement attractions including a water slide and a concert stage. Among all these, the main accommodation is the LaQua spa, see Do.

17. DoChuo

    Ramen Cooking Tokyo

    English-only small-group cooking class (maximum 8 participants) where visitors prepare ramen and sushi in a 3-hour session, with a sake pairing of three varieties. Located in Tsukishima, a short walk from the monja-yaki district.

    10:00–13:00, 14:00–17:00·¥20,000

18. SeeBunkyo

    Rikugien

    六義園

    A classical Japanese park with ponds, hills and teahouses, that was built in 1695 by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu, a Tokugawa daimyo. It's a popular cherry blossom spot in spring and is lit up at night at this time.

    ¥300

19. SeeShinjuku

    Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

    新宿御苑

    A large public garden, and one of the most popular places for viewing cherry blossoms in spring. It has Japanese, English and French gardens, as well as a Taiwanese teahouse and a greenhouse. The entrance fee often makes the park surprisingly uncrowded and peaceful. Admission ends 30 minutes before closing.

    09:00-16:30; open until 18:00 mid-March to June and mid-August to September, until 19:00 July to mid-August. Closed Mondays (with some exceptions) and during the New Year's Holiday·¥500, seniors/students ¥250, children under 15 free

20. SeeShinjuku

    Shinjuku-sanchōme and related red-light districts to the east of the station

    It is perfectly safe to walk around here during the day and marvel at the photo billboards of various male and female escorts on offer as well as the live gangster-types acting shady. While it probably shouldn't be done with children, for adults the result is far more "cultural interest" than sleaze.

21. DoBunkyo

    Tokyo Dome City

    An attractions complex featuring a large indoor stadium, an amusement park, bowling alley, off-track betting center, and the LaQua shopping mall/spa (see Buy). Tokyo Dome is one of several Tokyo stadiums. It is home to the Yomiuri Giants baseball team and also hosts concerts, trade show events, and professional sports. Attached by a walkway is Korakuen Hall, a hub for Japanese martial arts and professional wrestling events held almost daily.

22. SeeMinato

    Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum

    東京都庭園美術館

    Art museum housed in a classic Art Deco style structure, connected to a small park with Japanese and Western gardens and outdoor sculptures.

23. SeeChiyoda

    Yasukuni Shrine

    靖國神社 Yasukuni-jinja

    A controversial shrine to Japan's war dead, housing the souls of some 2.5 million people killed in Japan's wars — including convicted war criminals executed by the Allies. A favorite haunt of right-wing groups in black loudspeaker-equipped trucks, and often visited by Japanese and Taiwanese politicians, drawing sharp criticisms from neighbors China and South Korea in the process. Consider keeping your visit to the shrine secret if you have Chinese or Korean friends or relatives. Open daily and free entrance adjacent to Metro Hanzomon line Kudanshita station, or cross the bridge north from Kitanomaru Park. Festivals take place most notably in mid-July and mid-October, which can attract as many people and vendors as it does on New Year's Day when the Japanese come to pray for a prosperous year. It can also get quite crowded during cherry blossom season.

24. BuyTaito Not mapped

    Chaho Kanekichi-en

    茶舗金吉園

    An old-school tea shop near the entrance to Yanaka Ginza, just follow the smell of roasting tea. They prepare their own blends, which are uniformly excellent: try the slightly bitter Snow Plum (雪の梅 Yuki-no-Ume, ¥600 per 100g) or the unusual Yanaka Midori (谷中みどり, ¥600-1000 per 100g), a mix of roasted tea stems (the cheapest tea) with tea-ceremony grade matcha (the most expensive tea). Ask to see the private garden and if they're in a good mood they just might let you have a peek.

25. BuyGinza Not mapped

    Hakuhinkan Toy Park

    博品館

    One of the oldest and largest toy stores in Japan (it first opened in 1899), this is the place to go for all the latest cute and strange toys.

26. EatMeguro Not mapped

    Sweets Forest

    スイーツフォレスト

    This is a mall dedicated to desserts. Multiple shops and cafes.

    From ¥500

27. DoMinato Not mapped

    Tokyo Cruise

    水上バス 東京湾クルーズ (waterborne bus Tokyo Bay cruise)

    Plies the Sumida River and Tokyo Bay between Hamamatsucho, Odaiba, Asakusa and other points.

    Fares vary depending on routing

28. BuyShinjuku Not mapped

    West Exit Square Event Space

    西口広場イベントスペース

    An area hosting a rotating series of stalls or exhibits. These have included various local foods from around Japan, furniture, art prints and information about various government projects around Tokyo. The underground area around it is a great place to find takeaway food and fast food outlets - named Keio Mall, Odakyu Ace and Shinjuku Delish Park (temporary location for Odakyu's depachika).

29. DoShinjuku Not mapped

    Club on the Park Spa

    Park Hyatt Tokyo Hotel, 3-7-1-2 Nishi Shinjuku

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Tokyo (CC BY-SA 4.0).