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| Tokyo's oldest Edo garden. Tokugawa
Ietsuna, the 4th Edo Shogun, gave this land to Lord
Okubo Tadatomo. Construction of the garden began in 1678 and
became the 'Shiba-Rikyu Gardens' in 1875. The main feature is the
large pond which used to be filled with sea-water. The pond's two
main islands Oshima and Horai-jima can be crossed by connecting bridges.
Black pine, camphor, wisteria and azalea are featured plants.
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| The 'strolling'
style pond garden has many delightful view points, although some are
spoilt by the inevitable background of high-rise concrete. |
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| In 1704 the area became a Tokugawa
shogun's residence (summer villa). It was renamed Hama-rikyu during
the Meiji Era. With it's waterfront location the garden has the only
tidal pond, Shioiri-no-ike, in Tokyo. The
pond's focal point is Nakajima island which is connected via Konoji-shima
island by the Otsutai-bashi bridge. The
Nakjima-no-chaya teahouse on the central
island provides superb views which have been enjoyed by shoguns and
nobles since 1707. The garden also features; 'duck-hunting Grounds',
a peony garden and a huge 300-year old black pine tree said to have
been planted by Tokugawa Ienobu.
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| A beautiful
pond and most elegant tea house. A great garden for a picnic.
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This garden was ordered by Tokugawa
Yorifusa and construction began about 1629 (Early Edo). It
was styled to represent a number of famous Chinese sites. The central
pond with it's Horai-jima island was once used for boating pleasures.
Of particular interest is the Engetsukyo,
a stone bridge of Chinese design, the elegant arch together with it's
water reflection produces a 'full moon'.
Also of note is the simplistic Yatsu-hashi
bridge of wooden planks which zigzag through beds of iris, and the
Sawatari stepping stones which pass a fine
waterfall. |
| The garden is for
strolling and enjoyment of the key views, unfortunately the ambience
can be destroyed by the noise which comes from the nearby Tokyo Dome
stadium. |
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Dedicated to the Emperor
Meiji the Shrine itself sits at the centre of a large (179
acre) wooded park called the Inner garden. To the south, are iris
gardens and a tea house which looks down on a pond featuring a fishing
platform.
A wide tree-lined walk beneath huge cypress Torii leads to the Shrine.
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| Torii, mark the
approach to a sacred Shinto shrine, usually painted red. |
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| This large and popular park next to the busy
commercial area of Shinjuku has expansive lawns for picnicking and
strolling. There is also a more traditional Japanese pond garden.
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| A great place for
lunchtime relaxing if you don't mind a skyline of modern office blocks. |
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