Hamarikyu Gardens (Hama-rikyu Onshi Teien) is a large Edo-period landscape garden on the edge of Tokyo Bay, right next to the skyscrapers of Shiodome. Its seawater pond, island teahouse and old pine trees make a striking contrast with the glass towers around it.
The garden covers about 25 hectares and is managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as a cultural property. It is an easy add-on to a morning at the Tsukiji Outer Market or an afternoon in Ginza.
Plan your visit to Hamarikyu Gardens
- Entry: ¥300
- 9:00 to 17:00 (closed 29 Dec to 1 Jan)
- Time needed: 1 to 2 hours
History of Hamarikyu Gardens
The site began in the mid-17th century as a residence of the Matsudaira family, relatives of the Tokugawa shoguns. In the early 18th century it became a shogunal villa known as Hama Goten, used for falconry and duck hunting, and the garden was reshaped several times over the Edo period.
After the Meiji Restoration it became an imperial detached palace (rikyu), used to receive foreign guests. Badly damaged in the 1923 earthquake and in the Second World War, it was given to the City of Tokyo in 1945 and opened to the public in 1946.
Attractions at Hamarikyu Gardens
- Shioiri-no-ike Pond: a tidal pond fed with seawater from Tokyo Bay through sluice gates, so the water level changes with the tide.
- Nakajima-no-Ochaya: the teahouse on an island in the pond, reached by wooden bridges, where you can have matcha and a Japanese sweet.
- 300-year pine: a huge black pine near the entrance, said to have been planted in the early 18th century.
- Duck-hunting sites: restored Edo-period blinds and channels once used for hunting wild ducks.
- Flower fields and groves: plum blossoms in February, cherry blossoms and canola flowers in spring, peonies in April and May, and cosmos in autumn.
Things to Do at Hamarikyu Gardens
- Walk the garden: follow the paths around the pond and along the old sea wall facing the bay.
- Have tea on the island: matcha and a seasonal sweet at Nakajima-no-Ochaya.
- Photograph old and new: the teahouse and pines framed by the Shiodome towers make a classic Tokyo shot.
- Arrive by boat: take a Tokyo Water Bus from Asakusa down the Sumida River and step off inside the garden.
- New Year falconry: traditional falconry demonstrations are usually held in early January.
Hamarikyu Gardens – Entry Eligibility and Open Timings
- Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30).
- Closed: 29 December to 1 January.
- Admission: ¥300 for adults, ¥150 for seniors 65+, free for children of primary school age and younger.
- Teahouse: matcha and sweets are paid separately at Nakajima-no-Ochaya.
How Long to Spend at Hamarikyu Gardens
Allow 1 to 2 hours to walk the garden and stop at the teahouse.
How to Get There
- Subway or Yurikamome: Shiodome Station (Toei Oedo Line or Yurikamome), 5 to 10 minutes’ walk.
- JR: Shimbashi Station (Yamanote and other lines), 10 to 15 minutes’ walk.
- Tsukiji: Tsukijishijo Station on the Oedo Line is about 7 minutes away, handy if you come from the market.
- Water bus: a few Tokyo Water Bus services from Asakusa stop at the garden (about 35 minutes; fare includes garden admission). Boats only drop off here, so you cannot board at Hamarikyu for the return.
Arriving at Haneda Airport? Book a fixed-price airport transfer straight to your hotel.
Eateries Nearby Hamarikyu Gardens
- Nakajima-no-Ochaya: matcha and Japanese sweets inside the garden.
- Tsukiji Outer Market: about 10 minutes’ walk, with sushi, seafood bowls and street snacks (most stalls close by early afternoon).
- Shiodome: restaurant floors in Caretta Shiodome and other towers.
- Shimbashi: lively izakaya and cheap lunch spots popular with office workers.
Other Attractions Nearby Hamarikyu Gardens
- Tsukiji Outer Market: Tokyo’s famous food market streets.
- Ginza: upscale shopping and department stores, about 15 minutes’ walk.
- Zojo-ji Temple: the Tokugawa family temple beneath Tokyo Tower.
- Odaiba: reached by the Yurikamome from Shiodome across the Rainbow Bridge.
Before your trip
- Find hotels in Tokyo: Shiodome, Shimbashi and Ginza are all within walking distance of the garden.
- Get a Japan eSIM before you land, for maps and ride-hailing apps.
Hamarikyu Gardens is a former shogun’s villa garden on Tokyo Bay, with a tidal seawater pond, an island teahouse and centuries-old pines set against the Shiodome skyline. For ¥300 it is one of the best-value stops in central Tokyo, and you can even arrive by water bus from Asakusa.
From here, head across the bay to Odaiba or walk to Zojo-ji Temple and Tokyo Tower.
