Castles & palaces
Hamarikyu Gardens
Hama-rikyū Gardens is a metropolitan garden in Chūō ward, Tokyo, Japan. Located at the mouth of the Sumida River, it was opened to the public on April 1, 1946. A landscaped garden of 250,216 m2 includes Shioiri-no-ike, and the garden is surrounded by a seawater moat filled by Tokyo Bay. It was remodeled as a public garden on the site of a villa belonging to the ruling Tokugawa family in the 17th century.
Hama-rikyū Gardens
This is a landscaped garden built on the former site of a 17th-century Tokugawa family villa, sitting where the Sumida River meets Tokyo Bay. Its main distinguishing feature is a seawater pond, Shioiri-no-ike, connected to the bay through a moat, so the water level visibly rises and falls with the tide. Walking paths, pine trees, and a teahouse on the pond give a sense of an Edo-period garden set directly against the modern high-rises of Shiodome, which makes it a good spot for contrasting old and new Tokyo in a single view.
Getting there
The garden sits in Chūō ward, a short walk from Shiodome and Shimbashi stations, both reachable from central Tokyo in about 15-20 minutes by train. It's also accessible by water bus from Asakusa along the Sumida River, which takes roughly 35-40 minutes and is a scenic way to arrive.
How much time to allow
Most visitors spend one to two hours walking the grounds, including a stop at the teahouse for tea overlooking the pond.
When to go
Weekday mornings tend to be quieter than weekends and holidays. The garden includes a plum grove and areas of seasonal flowers, so late winter and spring bring more visitors than other times of year.
Combining with nearby sights
- Shiodome (0.4km) - directly adjacent, easy to pair before or after the garden.
- Ginza (1.3km) - a walkable follow-on for shopping and dining.
- Tokyo Tower (1.5km) - within walking distance if you want a skyline view afterward.
- Artizon Museum (2.3km) - a further option for those adding an art stop to the day.
Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
