Hama-rikyu Gardens

Hama-rikyu Gardens, located in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, is a daimyo garden from the Edo period, renowned for its large tidal pond that draws water from Tokyo Bay. Originally a shogunal hawking ground, the site was first developed into a residence in 1654 by Matsudaira Tsunashige, the younger brother of the Fourth Shogun Ietsuna. It later became a detached palace for the shogun’s family, known as Hama Goten, and was perfected over generations, reaching its near-present form during the time of the Eleventh Shogun, Ienari. After the Meiji Restoration, it served as a detached imperial palace before being bestowed upon the city of Tokyo and opening to the public in 1946.
The garden’s centerpiece is the Shioiri no Ike, a tidal pond unique in Tokyo that changes its scenery with the ebb and flow of the bay, allowing saltwater fish to thrive within. Other significant features include two preserved duck hunting grounds (kamoba) and several faithfully reconstructed teahouses, such as the Nakajima no Ochaya, which sits serenely on an island in the pond. A magnificent 300-year-old black pine, planted to commemorate a major renovation by Shogun Ienobu (the sixth shogun), stands as a living monument to the garden’s history.
Today, Hama-rikyu Gardens is designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and Special Historic Site of the country, offering visitors a tranquil escape. Guests can enjoy matcha at the teahouse, wander through vibrant seasonal flower fields, and even arrive via a scenic water bus from Asakusa, connecting the historical landscape to the modern metropolis.