# Hamarikyu Gardens, Tokyo

> Hamarikyu is an Edo-period garden on Tokyo Bay, among Shiodome's skyscrapers. Its main pond fills with seawater on the tide, the Nakajima teahouse stands on an island, and the shoguns' duck-hunting sites survive at the edges. Entry is ¥300 and it's open 9:00 to 17:00. It's about 7 minutes on foot from Shiodome station.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/hamarikyu-gardens

- City: [Tokyo](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo), Japan
- YesGo score: 36/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 1 h
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Entry: ¥300; over-65s ¥150; primary-school age and under free
- Hours: 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:30
- Closed: Only 29 December–1 January
- Teahouse: Nakajima on an island in the pond — matcha and sweets
- Area: ≈ 25 ha
- Getting there: Shiodome station (Oedo, Yurikamome) — about 7 minutes
- Coordinates: 35.66018, 139.76382
- Facts checked: 09.11.2026

## Key facts

- **1654** — the year a shogun's brother built a residence here (source: tokyo-park.or.jp)
- **Tidal pond** — fed by seawater from the bay (source: tokyo-park.or.jp)
- **2 sites** — for the shoguns' duck hunting survive in the garden (source: tokyo-park.or.jp)
- **Ienari** — under the 11th shogun the garden took its present form (source: tokyo-park.or.jp)
- **1946** — on 1 April the garden opened to the public (source: tokyo-park.or.jp)
- **≈ 25 ha** — garden area (source: tokyo-park.or.jp)
- **¥300** — adult entry (source: tokyo-park.or.jp)
- **Nakajima** — the teahouse on an island in the pond (source: tokyo-park.or.jp)

## What are Hamarikyu Gardens?

**Hamarikyu** is a classic **Edo-period** garden on Tokyo Bay. In **1654** a shogun's brother built a residence here on reclaimed land; it later passed to the **Tokugawa** family, each shogun altered the garden, and it took its present form under the 11th shogun, **Ienari**. Later it became a detached palace of the imperial family, and since **1946** it has been open to all.

Its signature is the **tidal pond**: seawater flows in from the bay and the water level rises and falls with the tides. Two of the shoguns' **duck-hunting sites** survive, and the **Nakajima** teahouse stands on an island in the pond. Around it are lawns and old pines, with the glass skyscrapers of **Shiodome** on the horizon.

> **Tea on the water** At the Nakajima teahouse on its island in the pond, matcha is served with a Japanese sweet — the garden's essential ritual. Wooden bridges lead to it. In summer the garden is hot with little shade; cherry trees and rapeseed bloom in spring, cosmos and maples colour in autumn. Last entry is at 16:30.

## How the garden works

According to the official site, the garden is open **9:00 to 17:00** (last entry 16:30) almost all year — closed only from 29 December to 1 January. Entry is **¥300**, ¥150 for over-65s, and primary-school children and younger go free. The garden covers about **25 hectares**.

Paths run round the Shioiri pond, past the teahouse and duck-hunting sites to the bay front. At the edge of the garden is a water-bus pier, with boats up the Sumida River to **Asakusa**. Black pines, plum, cherry, azaleas and maples grow here — something is in flower almost every season.

## What to see

- **The tidal pond** of seawater.
- **The Nakajima teahouse** on its island.
- **The shoguns' duck-hunting sites**.
- **Old pines** on the lawns.
- **Fields of rapeseed and cosmos** in season.
- **Shiodome's skyscrapers** above the garden.

## How to get to Hamarikyu Gardens

1. **Shiodome station** (Oedo and Yurikamome lines) — about 7 minutes on foot.
2. **Shimbashi station** (JR, metro) — about 12 minutes.
3. **From Tsukiji market** — about 10 minutes on foot.
4. **Water bus** — from Asakusa down the Sumida River right into the garden.
5. **From Haneda airport** — monorail to Hamamatsucho, then 15 minutes on foot.

## Hamarikyu or Shinjuku Gyoen

|  | Hamarikyu | Shinjuku Gyoen |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Style | An Edo-period shogun's garden | Three styles: Japanese, English, French |
| Entry | ¥300 | ¥500 |
| Closed | New Year only | Mondays |
| Highlight | Tidal pond and tea on the water | Cherry blossom and greenhouse |

## How long do you need?

Allow **1–1.5 hours** for the garden, about 2 hours with tea at Nakajima. It's easy to come after breakfast at **Tsukiji market**, 10 minutes' walk away.

The loveliest way to leave is by water — a water bus to **Asakusa**, seeing Tokyo from the river.

## Are Hamarikyu Gardens worth visiting?

Yes: it's a rare place where a shogun's garden and glass skyscrapers share one frame, and entry is just ¥300.

The YesGo take: in summer it's hot with little shade. Come in spring or autumn, in the morning, and be sure to have matcha on the island — that's the reason to come.

## Before you go: checklist

- [ ] ¥300 for entry
- [ ] Time for tea at Nakajima
- [ ] A hat in summer
- [ ] Tsukiji before the garden
- [ ] A water bus afterwards

## Tokyo gardens and parks: compare and choose

Gardens, parks and historic sites in Tokyo rated by YesGo.

- [Tokyo Imperial Palace](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/tokyo-imperial-palace) — YesGo score 62/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · free
- [Hamarikyu Gardens](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/hamarikyu-gardens) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ¥300; over-65s ¥150

## Tokyo Bay in a day

Hamarikyu Gardens in the morning, Odaiba in the afternoon, and teamLab Planets in Toyosu in the evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

1. [Hamarikyu Gardens](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/hamarikyu-gardens) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ¥300; over-65s ¥150
2. [Odaiba](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/odaiba) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · free; museums and observatory paid
3. [teamLab Planets](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/teamlab-planets) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · from ¥3,800, timed entry

## Good to know

Hamarikyu Gardens are not the Imperial Palace East Gardens or Shinjuku Gyoen. 'Rikyu' means 'detached palace' — the garden was imperial but is now open to everyone.

## Tips

- Matcha on the island is the garden's ritual.
- Last entry is 16:30.
- Little shade in summer.
- Leave by water bus.
- Nearby: [Tsukiji market](https://yesgo.io/japan/tokyo/tsukiji-outer-market), 10 minutes.

## Questions

### How much is entry to Hamarikyu Gardens?

¥300, ¥150 for over-65s, primary-school age and under free.

### What are the opening hours?

9:00–17:00, last entry 16:30.

### When is the garden closed?

Only from 29 December to 1 January.

### What is a tidal pond?

A pond fed by seawater from the bay — its level changes with the tide.

### Where can I have tea?

At the Nakajima teahouse on an island in the pond.

### How do I get there?

About 7 minutes on foot from Shiodome station.

### Can you arrive by water bus?

Yes, the garden has a water-bus pier with boats from Asakusa.

### How long do you need?

1–1.5 hours, about 2 hours with tea.

## How we checked

Hours, prices, closing days, the garden's history from 1654, its public opening date, area, tidal pond, duck-hunting sites and teahouse are from the Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association's official site. We couldn't find the matcha price or water-bus timetable, so we don't give them. We don't cover 20th-century damage to the garden. Walking times are from guides.

## Sources

- Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association (tokyo-park.or.jp) — hours, prices, closing days, history, area, pond, teahouse (official, checked 09.11.2026)
- English Wikipedia: Hama-rikyu Gardens — general information
- Travel guides — water buses, walking times (unofficial)
- OSM — coordinates; Wikidata Q1033333

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