Hamarikyu Gardens

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The park's Shioiri-no-ike pond is one of the last remaining examples of a feudal lord's tidal pond in Tokyo.

2. 2

   The water in the central pond is pulled directly from Tokyo Bay through a sluice gate that regulates levels based on the ocean tide.

3. 3

   The 300-year-old 'Three-Hundred-Year Pine' was planted by the sixth Tokugawa Shogun, Ienobu, to celebrate the garden's renovation.

4. 4

   The garden layout includes a 'duck hunting ground' (kamo-ba) that dates back to the Edo period, featuring complex water systems and earthen mounds.

5. 5

   Visitors can reach the gardens by a dedicated water bus service that connects to Asakusa and Odaiba.

6. 6

   The park provides a stark visual contrast between 17th-century garden design and the modern Shiodome skyscrapers looming directly over its borders.

Overview

Hamarikyu Gardens is a traditional landscape garden located at the confluence of the Sumida River and Tokyo Bay. The park features a unique seawater tidal pond, the Shioiri-no-ike, where the water level fluctuates with the tides. Originally a falconry ground for the Tokugawa Shogunate, it was later repurposed as an imperial villa and garden. The site contains a 300-year-old pine tree, designated as a Tokyo Metropolitan Natural Monument. Visitors can access the gardens via water buses that dock at the internal pier. The landscape design incorporates a combination of classic Edo-period pond styles and wide, open grassy spaces. Throughout the year, the gardens host seasonal floral displays, including cherry blossoms, rapeseed, and cosmos. It serves as an urban oasis surrounded by the high-rise architecture of the Shiodome district.

Insider tips

• Visit the Nakajima-no-ochaya teahouse on the island in the tidal pond to experience traditional matcha and seasonal Japanese sweets.

• Walk the full perimeter of the tidal pond to see the water level change, which significantly alters the appearance of the rock embankments.

• Bring a hat and sunscreen as much of the walking path is exposed, especially in the large grassy fields.