The Tokyo Traveler

Plan to visit the Aoyama Cemetery on your next trip to Tokyo.  Believe it, or not, Tokyoites use this cemetery as a place to enjoy the cherry blossoms each spring and as a jogging or walking are year round.  Aoyama Cemetery offers a beautiful park-like setting in the heart of Tokyo.
“Aoyama Cemetery, perhaps best described as an urban oasis, has been in existence for over 130 years. As one of the four city-owned cemeteries, it is the eternal resting place of over 120,000 graves, including many politicians, writers, Hachiko the famous loyal dog, and nearly 200 foreigners since the Meiji …read more

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Wander through a bird sanctuary, have a picnic, ride a Ferris Wheel, ponder Tokyo bay and visit Tokyo Sea Life Park in just one day!  It’s all possible when you visit Kasai Rinkai Koen, a large park located just over the Edogawa river from the heart of Tokyo.  Take a break from the hectic pace of the city and enjoy a day at this great park!
Kasai Rinkai Park first opened to the public in 1989 and is the largest park in Tokyo’s 23 wards. Lovely grassy areas, a barbeque and picnic area and great views of Tokyo Bay from the …read more

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Summer is almost a memory and fall is fast approaching in Tokyo.  The Japanese are well known for being proud of their four seasons and autumn is no exception. In Japan the changing of the seasons are celebrated throughout the country with festivals, seasonal foods and special events.
In the fall, the harvest of new rice is celebrated at temples and shrines and moon viewing, tsukimi, is all the rage.  Residents and visitors alike head out for walks in the parks of Tokyo to take in the colorful fall foliage with almost as much delight as when they head off to …read more

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Sitting on land that was once home to the mansions of feudal lords (daimyo) in the Edo Era and used as a military training ground in the following era you will find Hibiya Park. The garden was first opened in June, 1903 and was the first western style urban garden in Tokyo.

Ponder the central grass square and it’s surrounding blooms from the patio of the park office, a German-style bungalow built in 1910 and one of the few remaining examples of western-style architecture from the Meiji Era in Tokyo, where you will find a restaurant and snack shop.  Then take …read more

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In the blazing heat of the midday sun the shade of a willow tree, or yanagi as it is know in Japan, is a refreshing and beautiful sight that is common in gardens, parks and alongside the many moats and canals located throughout Tokyo.  At night the shadows thrown by the long, wispy branches of this magnificently imposing tree often evoke images of the spirit world that are known as yokai.   The tales of the yanagi yokai have survived for centuries, been memorialized in artwork, and remind us to be wary of these deceptively beautiful trees, else fall victim to …read more

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Visitors to Tokyo tend to do a lot of walking while touring the city.  The routine goes something like this, walk to the nearest Tokyo Metro Station, navigate your way to your destination, possibly transiting one or more stations on foot in the process, walk to and around your desired destination and finally,when you have had your fill of the sights or your feet are just too tired to walk anymore, do it all again in reverse to get back to your accommodations.  Now that’s a lot of walking! It’s good for you and you see a lot more by …read more

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Summer in Japan is well known for it’s heat and humidity but it is also time to dust of your yukata (summer kimono) and head out to a festival or to your local park for a bento picnic. You can also catch some great hanabi (fireworks) shows or head out to a baseball game.
Many festivals are held throughout the year and you can attend one on almost any weekend during the summer months. The Japan Times provides a Monthly Guide to Festivals in Japan which is a great resource for visitors and residents alike. Attending a …read more

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Mid June marks the peak blooming season for irises, or shobu, in Tokyo.  This is one of my favorite flowers and I always take some time to fit in a visit to an iris garden this time of year.  Here are just of few of the Gardens in Tokyo where you can see these beautiful blooms:

Meiji Jingu Shrine – The garden is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ( 6 p.m. on Sat. & Sun.). Admission:¥500.  Closest Station: Harajuku (Yamanote Line) or Tokyo Metro Meiji-Jingumae Sta.
Horikiri Shobuen Garden -  The garden is open daily from 8 a.m. …read more

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The Rikugien Garden is celebrating it’s annual Azalea or satsuki festival from May 24th through June 8th but it’s not just about these beautiful flowers!
The garden was built in 1702 on the grounds of a private villa and was not open to the public until 1938. It was designated as a special beauty spot of Japan in 1953 and features a large pond and surrounded by sloping hills and walking paths. There isn’t a better time to stroll through this garden than when the Azaleas are in bloom.
Events during the festival include:

Niko concerts (Chinese two string violin …read more

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The Imperial Palace East Garden, or Higashi-gyoen, is rightly considered one of Tokyo’s finest gardens.
The Imperial Palace East Garden is located on the former site of Edo Castle. None of the original buildings remain but the moats, walls, entrance gates and several guardhouses that protected the former castle still stand within the confines of the garden. The castle, once the largest in Japan standing 58 meters (190 feet) high, was destroyed by fire in 1657 but the base remains and can be used as a vantage point to oversee portions of this vast garden.
The Tide …read more

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