A Hot Summer's Day in Rikugien

A stroll through one of Tokyo's most beautiful gardens

Anne Lauenroth Nov 03, 2016 - 1 min read

So much green, it's easy to forget you're still in Tokyo

Ice-cold matcha and traditional sweets at Fukiage Chaya

In some areas, the park looks like forest

On a particularly hot summer’s day, I was looking for shade to escape the burning August sun. My search brought me to Rikugien, a beautiful Edo Period landscape garden in northern Tokyo’s Bunkyo ward. Built around 1700 and opened to the public in 1938, Rikugien’s name is a reference to the six elements of Waka poetry. Stroll around the large pond and through artificial hills, marvel at the wildlife, and enjoy a delicious ice-cold cup of matcha at Fukiage Chaya tea house. Spreading out over close to 88,000 km², vast Rikugien can be easily reached from Komagome Station (Tokyo Metro or JR Yamanote line).

More info

Find out more about Rikugien Garden.

Anne Lauenroth @anne.lauenroth

German writer, translator and editor with a passion for travel, photography and all things Japanese. More about me and my work on www.allwordz.com and www.floating-worlds.com.