Hama-rikyu Gardens

Hama-rikyu Gardens was originally built on reclaimed land along the shoreline as a villa of the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period.
The gardens feature a pond fed by seawater and were once used as a duck-hunting ground where falconry was practiced. During the Meiji era, the site became an imperial villa, and it was then that the name was changed to Hama-rikyu.
The gardens suffered damage during the Great Kanto Earthquake and the air raids on Tokyo during World War II. After the war, they were transferred to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which gradually restored and preserved them in their present form.
Covering approximately 250,000 square meters, Hama-rikyu Gardens is a green oasis in the heart of the city. Surrounded by office buildings and expressways, the gardens offer visitors seasonal scenery throughout the year. At the center lies the Shioiri-no-Ike, or Tide-In Pond, which is connected to Tokyo Bay by a sluice gate that adjusts the water level according to the tides. The pond is home to marine fish such as gobies and mullet.
Another highlight is the Nakajima Tea House, located on Nakajima Island and reached via the wooden Otsutai Bridge. Reflected beautifully on the surface of the water, the tea house creates a scene that perfectly embodies the elegance of a traditional Japanese water garden.
Surrounding the tidal pond are several historic teahouses, including Taka-no-Ochaya and Matsu-no-Ochaya. These buildings were constructed to entertain distinguished guests and served as places of rest for successive shoguns during falconry outings and banquets.
Today, high-rise buildings form the backdrop to the gardens. Yet the contrast between the lush greenery and traditional Japanese architecture floating beside the water, and the modern skyscrapers beyond, creates a uniquely harmonious urban landscape.