Before visiting Tokyo, many people imagine a concrete jungle where people are packed together like sardines. They are often surprised to discover vast parklands that, depending on the time of day, can be largely devoid of people. This guide lists five wonderful parks you might like to visit, in no particular order. I apologize if your favorite isn’t included, but with so many special parks to choose from, I focused on some of those I have personally visited.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden- Tokyo’s expansive haven, blending traditional Japanese, French, and English gardens into a breathtaking seasonal tapestry of beauty (MORE ON THIS)
Ueno Park-A cultural oasis, featuring lush gardens, world-class museums, vibrant cherry blossoms, and a charming zoo(MORE ON THIS)
Yoyogi Park– Tokyo’s urban retreat, where vast green spaces, lively events, and tranquil ponds create the perfect escape from city life (MORE ON THIS)
Rikugien Garden– Tokyo’s Edo-era gem, showcasing exquisite landscape gardens, serene ponds, and seasonal beauty that transports you back in time (MORE ON THIS)
Kiyosumi Gardens- A serene stroll garden in Tokyo, featuring picturesque ponds, stepping stone paths, and meticulously curated landscapes (MORE ON THIS)
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Shinjuku Gyoen National Park, located in the heart of Tokyo, is a spacious and tranquil oasis renowned for its beautifully landscaped gardens. Spanning over 58.3 hectares (approximately 144 acres) in the Shinjuku and Shibuya wards, it blends traditional Japanese, French formal, and English landscape garden styles, offering a variety of picturesque scenery. Originally an imperial garden, it has a rich history dating back to the Edo Period (1603-1868) when it served as a feudal lord’s residence before becoming a botanical garden and later an imperial recreational space in 1903. Now open to the public, the park is famous for its stunning cherry blossom display in spring, with over 400 Somei Yoshino trees creating a breathtaking hanami (cherry blossom viewing) spot. In autumn, the vibrant colors of the maple trees, especially around the Japanese garden and Momijiyama (“maple mountain”), attract many visitors. Shinjuku Gyoen also features a beautiful greenhouse housing tropical and subtropical flowers. Open from 9:00 AM to 17:30 PM, the park provides a peaceful retreat from the bustling city, with spacious lawns, serene ponds, and well-manicured paths perfect for picnics, leisurely strolls, and seasonal flower viewing
Opening hours: Shinjuku Gyoen opens at 9AM except Mondays and New Year Holidays, with the closing time differing according to the time of year (3:30PM October 1st to March 14th, 5PM March 15th to June 30th, 6:30PM July 1 to August 20th, and 5PM August 21st to September 30th)
Admission Fee (at time of writing): ￥500 for visitors aged 16-64, ￥250 for over 65s and students (valid ID required), free for children 15 and under
Access: Approximately 5 minutes on foot from Sendagaya Station (Chuo Line) and Shinjuku Gyoenmae on the Marunouchi Line, and a 10-minute walk from the New South Exit of Shinjuku station (but be warned that Shinjuku Station is a jungle!)
The Google map link is here.
Free to enter and open around the clock and all year round, Ueno Park is a large public park situated next to Ueno Station in central Tokyo, making it easily accessible via multiple train, subway, and shinkansen lines, including the JR Yamanote loop line. Established in 1873 on the grounds of the former Kaneiji Temple, which was once a prominent and wealthy temple during the Edo Period and a family temple of the Tokugawa clan, the park became one of Japan’s first Western-style public parks after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Spanning over 133 acres, Ueno Park is a cultural hub known for its numerous museums, including the Tokyo National Museum, the National Museum for Western Art, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, and the National Museum of Nature and Science. It is also home to Ueno Zoo, Japan’s first zoological garden, established in 1882 and housing around 300 species and 3,000 animals. The park features Shinobazu Pond, with its picturesque Bentendo Hall situated in the middle. Ueno Park is particularly famous for its cherry blossoms, with over 1,000 cherry trees lining its central pathway, attracting large crowds for hanami (flower viewing) parties during late March and early April. This blend of historical, cultural, and natural attractions makes Ueno Park a must-visit destination for both locals and tourists.
Opening hours: Ueno Park itself is open 24 hours a day, every day. Various attractions within the park have their own opening times.
Admission fee: None for park itself, although you will need to pay for some attractions within the park.
Access: No more than a 5-minute walk from JR Ueno station, or a 10-minute walk from Keisei Ueno station and Ueno station on the subway Ginza line.
The Google map link is here.
Yoyogi Park, located in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, is one of the city’s largest and most popular parks, offering a unique blend of natural beauty, recreational facilities, and cultural events. Originally the site of Japan’s first successful powered aircraft flight in 1910 and later the Olympic Village during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the park was officially opened to the public in 1967. Spanning approximately 134 acres, Yoyogi Park features vast open lawns, wooded areas, and ponds, divided into two main areas: a northern, more wooded section and a southern area with wide lawns and fountains. The park is a popular destination for jogging, cycling, picnicking, and dog walking, with dedicated cycling paths and rental bikes available. On weekends, it transforms into a lively hub with street performances, drum circles, and impromptu dance sessions, and it frequently hosts flea markets and festivals. Yoyogi Park is also a favored location for hanami (cherry blossom viewing) in spring, offering a beautiful and festive atmosphere despite having fewer cherry trees than other famous spots in Tokyo. Conveniently located near Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote Line and Meiji-Jingumae Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, the park is adjacent to the Meiji Shrine and close to the fashionable districts of Harajuku and Shibuya. This makes Yoyogi Park a versatile and vibrant green space, providing a relaxing retreat from urban life and a venue for various recreational and cultural activities, making it a must-visit for anyone exploring Tokyo.
Opening hours: Yoyogi Park itself is open 24 hours a day, every day.
Admission fee: Entrance to Yoyogi Park is free of charge.
Access: Very short walk (approximately 2 minutes) from the Omotesando exit of JR Harajuku station, Exit 4 from Yoyogi-Koen station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, or Exit 2 from Meiji-Jingumae station (Chiyoda/Fukutoshin line).
The Google map link is here.
If miniature Japanese gardens are your thing, you simply cannot leave Tokyo without visiting Rikugien! Located in Bunkyo-ku, it is renowned as one of Tokyo’s most beautiful Japanese landscape gardens. Built around 1700 for the 5th Tokugawa Shogun, Rikugien translates to “six poems garden,” meticulously reproducing 88 scenes from famous poems in miniature. This historic garden is a prime example of an Edo Period strolling garden, featuring a large central pond surrounded by man-made hills and forested areas, all interconnected by a network of trails. These trails wind through forests and open lawns, leading visitors to several teahouses open to the public. Rikugien is particularly stunning in autumn, when numerous maple trees transform the garden into one of Tokyo’s best autumn color spots (amazing when lit up after darik). The garden is equally enchanting in spring, with various flowering trees and shrubs in bloom. This serene escape offers a glimpse into traditional Japanese landscape gardening and provides a tranquil retreat from the bustling city.
Opening hours: Basic opening hours are 9AM to 5PM (last entry 4:30PM). Some special extended hours during certain events.
Admission fee: ￥300 for ages 13-64, ￥150 for over 65s, and free for under 13s.
Access: Approximately 7 minutes on foot from Komagome station (South exit) on the JR Yamanote line or Tokyo Metro Namboku Line (Exit 2), or ten minutes from Sengoku station on the Toei Mita Line (Exit A3)
The Google map link is here.
Kiyosumi Garden is a traditional Japanese stroll garden located in the trendy Kiyosumi Shirakawa district of East Tokyo, the new craft coffee capital of Tokyo. Constructed between 1878 and 1885 during the Meiji Period by industrialist Iwasaki Yatarō, the garden was built on the site of an Edo-era merchant’s residence. Renowned for its meticulous landscaping, Kiyosumi Garden features a large central pond surrounded by black pines, seasonal flowers, and a diverse collection of valuable stones gathered from across Japan. This garden, completed during the Meiji era (1868-1912), exemplifies the Japanese strolling-style landscape, offering visitors the unique experience of walking along “isowatari” stepping stone paths set in the water. These paths provide views of fish and turtles beneath the pond’s surface and reflections of the garden above. Additionally, the garden is home to various bird species and highlights include the Ryotei Pavilion and Turtle Island.
Opening hours: Basic opening hours are 9AM to 5PM (last entry 4:30PM). Some special extended hours during certain events.
Admission fee: ￥150 for ages 13-64, ￥70 for over 65s (supposedly you need a valid ID but my parents got the discount just by being able to say their birthdays), and free for under 13s.
Access: Approximately 2 minutes on foot from exit A3 of Kiyosumi-Shirakawa station on the Hanzomon Line or Oedo Line. (Don’t go out the Mitsume-Dori side of the Hanzomon Line or you will be miles away).
The Google map link is here.