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 a leisurely 1.2 kilometer stroll past monuments, seasonal flowers, ponds and fountains. As with many of Tokyo’s parks you will find yourself lost in the beauty of of your surroundings and hardly aware that you are in the center of a busy city. Highlights in the park include Shinji-ike pond which sits alongside a stone wall that was once part of the outer defenses of the Edo Castle, some clay figures that are remains from ancient burial grounds in Miyazaki Prefecture and a crane fountain that graces the center of Kumogata-ike pond. The fountain is a beautiful sight anytime of the year but particularly popular in winter when icicles hang from the spread wings of the crane. Hibiya Park is located a short walk from either Hibiya or Kasumigaseki Stations and sits on the outer edge of the Imperial Palace Plaza.

Image Credit: Personal Collection

Post from: The Tokyo Traveler

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 view, or Shiomi-zaka, slope once commanded a view of the ocean but now leads you downs to the Ninomaru Garden which is beautifully laid out around a central pond that features many stunning bridges and stone lanterns on the surrounding path. Also on the grounds is the Suwano-chaya Tea House, originally built in 1912 and the Sannomaru Shozokan (The Museum of the Imperial Collections) that holds a collection of approximately 9,500 art pieces owned and inherited by the Imperial family.

The Imperial Palace East Garden can be accessed through one of three gates (map) within close proximity to either the Takebashi or Otemachi Stations on Tokyo Metro. Use the garden map to identify points of interest in the garden and their locations.

After spending a few hours at the Imperial Palace East Garden, why not pop across the street to the Imperial Hotel and and rest your feet while enjoying a cocktail at the Old Imperial Bar? It’s a perfect way to end the day.

Photo Credit: Flickr, In the Tokyo Imperial Palace East Garden

Post from: The Tokyo Traveler

The name of the park means “to view from the beach” and is a testament to it’s location near the Pacific Ocean. It is a landscape garden in the Japanese walk-around style with a central pond and a tea house named Shouraitei which translates to “the pine trees whisper”. The beauty of this type of garden is in its design which leads the visitor along a path to a series of changing scenic views from a forested mountain to a koi filled pond to a calming beach and then back to a serene tea house.

To get there take the Keiyo Line from Tokyo Station to Kaihin-Makuhari (about 30 minutes)and walk 10 minutes to the gardens entrance. An English language brochure can be picked up at the tourist information desk at the Kaihin-Makuhari station or is provided at the entrance to the garden. Entry is very reasonable at Y100 or about US$1.

Photo Credit: Personal Collection

Post from: The Tokyo Traveler