Hamarikyu Gardens, Tokyo

Hamarikyu is a large and captivating landscaped garden situated in the heart of Tokyo. Positioned alongside Tokyo Bay, this garden features ponds filled with seawater that rise and fall with the tides. There's also a charming teahouse located on an island where visitors can take a break and relish the scenic views. The garden's design is steeped in tradition and stands out starkly against the towering skyscrapers of the nearby Shiodome district.

Throughout its history, Hamarikyu has served various purposes. Initially, it was constructed as the Tokyo residence and hunting grounds for a feudal lord during the Edo Period (1603-1867). Later on, it transformed into a strolling garden and an imperial detached palace before finally being opened to the public in its current layout. You can still see remnants of its past roles scattered throughout the garden, such as reconstructed duck hunting blinds and the remnants of an old moat and reconstructed rock wall.

Hamarikyu is captivating in every season. While it may not be as renowned for its autumn foliage as some other gardens in Tokyo, it boasts a generous display of maple, ginkgo, and other trees that don their splendid autumn colors from late November to early December.

In late February, you can enjoy plum blossoms, and the spring cherry blossom season, spanning from late March to early April, is also delightful, though it might be somewhat more subdued compared to other cherry blossom viewing spots in the city. Additionally, various other flower species, including peonies and canola blossoms, grace the garden with their blooms during spring.