A Japanese Rock Garden - Tokyo Facts on The Japanese Style Garden

A Japanese Rock Garden is a wonderful place to relax from the Tokyo city buzz.

Imagine Japanese garden lanterns, a Garden Tea - house and maple trees in Autumn colors.

This page let's you in on the Best 5 Japanese gardens in Tokyo.

The atmosphere is so calm and serene, you can almost feel like you went back in time.

Japanese Garden History

Autumn and Cherry Blossom flower season are major attractions here.

The Japanese rock garden is considered a reflection of nature, so you will never see a Japanese flower garden. No flower beds. The elements used are rocks, water, sand and trees.

Each tree is taken care of meticulously.
You can see trees that have a crutch that was put there to support the lower branches to prevent them from falling and changing the harmony of the scenery !!

The locals treat the place with a lot of respect.

The quiet atmosphere is always kept, even on weekends and holidays when the gardens are slightly more crowded.

Although Tokyo people bring their lunch box (bento) with them, they never leave a crumb behind them.

All the elements symbolize something.Nothing in the Japanese Rock garden design is unplanned.

The elements - A Japanese garden lantern, Japanese garden stone, Japanese garden bridge, are put together to reveal the seasonal changes in the most beautiful way.

Which Tokyo Japanese Rock Garden To Visit?

While you're visiting, take the time to Have Matcha green tea and sweets in the tea house.

The teahouse walls are typically moved to the side, so you can enjoy the scenery while participating in the Japanese tea ceremony.

• Rikugien wins the first place thanks to being relatively out-of-the-way. You can easily forget that you are in the city. It is most magnificent in autumn when maple trees turn stunning blend of red and yellow.

  
  

  After a leisurely walk you arrive at the tiny tea house (there are two teahouses in Rikugien, I am referring to the one with the benches covered with red fabric) with a Japanese Garden bridge which overlooks the pond, the turtles and the superb autumn colors. A bliss !!


• Hama Rikyu Garden is surrounded by a sea water moat filled by Tokyo Bay. Originally the garden was created at a villa that belonged to a Shogun family.

  
  The garden creates a striking first impression because of the contrast between the traditional Japanese Rock garden design and the skyscrapers in the background.
  Hama Rikyu can be accessed by boat from Asakusa and Odaiba. Or you can get there from JR Shimbashi Station or Shiodome Station.



• Kyu-Shiba-Rikyu Garden Japanese lanterns, garden bridge and a classic Japanese Rock garden design. Located just next to Hamamatsucho Station.
  It was built on land from the residence of feudal lords. The buildings were destroyed during the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.


• Koishikawa Korakuen is one of the city's oldest and most beautiful Japanese style gardens.
  The place is beautiful during all seasons, but especially in the second half of November, during the Japanese cherry blossom trees season.
  As a traditional Japanese lanterns garden, it tries to create famous landscapes from China and Japan in miniature.

  
  Koishikawa Korakuen is a short walk from Iidabashi Station or Korakuen Station on the Marunouchi and Nanboku Subway Lines.



• Kiyosumi Teien - the highlight of this spot are the stones. Some of them were brought from all around Japan.
  The Japanese garden stone path in the pond is a must. You don't want to miss the huge fish and turtles.

  
  In the center there is a tea house and Japanese garden lanterns.
  The park is a short walk from Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station on the Hanzomon and Oedo Subway Lines

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