TRAVEL

Hama-rikyu Gardens Rikugien Gardens The Best Gardens to See Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo

This article was originally published in the Spring 2016 issue of The ROYAL.
All products, services, and prices are subject to change.

An Excursion from RIHGA Royal Hotel Tokyo

Beautiful spring has finally come. Undoubtedly, the symbol of spring in Japan is cherry blossoms. From RIHGA Royal Hotel Tokyo, where you can see beautiful cherry blossoms along the Kanda River, an editor, Morimoto Ryoko, took a little trip to two areas, the glamorous Ginza neighborhood and the academic Komagome area, visiting some famous flower gardens created in the Edo period.
(Photography by Takenouchi Hiroyuki)

Photos provided by Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association

Cherry blossoms, the Imperial Palace, and Japanese stationery…
Enjoy the Spring in Ginza.

Hama-rikyu Gardens
“Hama-rikyu Gardens” was formerly a part of the second home of Matsudaira Tsunashige (younger brother of the 4th Shogun, Tokugawa Ietsuna) and was once called “Hama-Goten.” 
Here, you can see blossoms of Somei-Yoshino (Yoshino Cherry) in early April and Satozakura (oriental cherry) in mid-April. The “300-year-old pine tree,” said to have been planted by Ienobu, the 6th Shogun, is just magnificent. The
contrast between the modern buildings of Shiodome and the Japanese garden is one-of-a-kind. You can also try a river cruise down the Sumida River to Asakusa or Odaiba.
“Hamamise” souvenir shop. Shogun Okaki (rice cracker) is one of their popular items. (¥ 180/piece) (right)

Let’s start our trip with the most popular cherry blossom viewing spots.
“Hama-rikyu Gardens” was once a part of a Shogun family’s second home called “Hama-goten” and has a seawater pond, unlike many other ordinary feudal lords’ gardens. Behind the cherry blossoms around the “Shioiri-no-ike” are the tall buildings of Shiodome, reminding you that you are in the middle of Tokyo. If you turn around, you can see Tokyo Bay, the Rainbow Bridge, and Odaiba in the distance. The “Shogun’s landing” in a corner makes you wonder if the feudal lord himself has also enjoyed the cherry blossoms here. You can also find the mighty 300-year-old black pine tree planted by Tokugawa Ienobu, the 6th Shogun. Time flies when you are exploring this garden.

Hiratsuka
Established in 1914, this store in Ginza sells Japanese stationery and Edo-style woodworking. The handmade woodblock-printed packets (from ¥572) and letter paper with family crests and seasonal designs are both elegant. The cheerful 82-year-old owner, Hiratsuka Hikotaro, has many fans.

Now, let’s walk for about 10 minutes to Ginza 8-chome. Our next destination is “Hiratsuka,” a Japanese stationery and Edo-style woodworking shop. All of their woodblock-printed Washi (Japanese paper) products are original, simple, unique, and beautiful. In addition to the Katabami family crest items, they offer more than 100 seasonal products. I feel like buying a cherry blossom postcard and writing a letter to my loved ones.

The cheerful owner, Hiratsuka Hikotaro, is a Ginza native. If time allows, he might tell you about Ginza and show you a collection of past products that are no longer available because of the worn-out printing blocks. The sophisticated atmosphere of “Hiratsuka” and the craftsmen’s skills are a sight to behold. Many of their regulars are also masters of chic and thoughtful arts, including calligraphy and tea ceremony. Visiting here, you will also be able to cultivate your sense of beauty.

Idemitsu Museum of Arts
The museum holds a collection of 10,000 pieces of Japanese and Oriental antiques, including two National Treasures. The museum is relatively small yet highly acclaimed for its satisfying exhibits. In the 50th anniversary exhibition “Celebrating the Beauty of Japanese Art” (from April 9), the first, second, and third volumes of the National Treasure “Ban Dainagon Emaki” will be exhibited for three terms.

Our next stop is the “Idemitsu Museum of Arts” in Marunouchi. The museum owns one of the best collections of oriental antiques in Tokyo, and it will hold its 50th-anniversary exhibition starting on April 9. The exhibition’s main attraction is one of Japan’s National Treasures, “Ban Dainagon Emaki.” You don’t want to miss this chance to see the famous art piece you have seen in your textbooks. Another thing you don’t want to miss is the view of the Imperial Palace from the lobby. 

The background landscape and the garden harmonize, and the view from the window looks almost like a picture. Enjoy the scenery from the window while sipping on their complimentary green tea. You also can’t miss Sengai’s “Shigetsu Hotei” merchandise, the first collection in their merchandise series, available at the museum store. The faces of Hotei and the child will surely make you happy. 

Finally, we are back at the RIHGA Royal Hotel Tokyo, and we will take a break at the Garden Lounge. Let’s enjoy a delicious cake and a moment of bliss, looking at the beautiful greenery of the Okuma Garden.

RIHGA Royal Hotel Tokyo “Garden Lounge” (1st Floor)
The atrium ceiling lets in abundant light and the Okuma Garden behind the windows proudly exhibits its seasonal beauty. Enjoy an elegant tea time at the lounge and forget your everyday life.
Afternoon tea （14:00～17:00）　¥3,564
Earl Grey tea pudding (with coffee or tea)　¥2,139

【DATA】

Hama-rikyu Gardens

1-1, Hama Rikyu-teien, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 

Phone: +81(0) 3-3541-0200 (Hama-rikyu Gardens Administration Office)

Opening Hours:

9:00～17:00 (last admission at 16:30)

9:00～18:00 (March 26～May 8)

9:00～16:30 (Nakajima-no-ochaya and Hamamise)

Admission: ¥300 (65 and over: ¥150)

(Free admission for children aged 12 or younger and junior high school students living or attending school in Tokyo)

Free admission on May 4 and October 1

Hiratsuka

8-7-6, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 

Phone: +81(0) 3-3571-1684

11:00～18:00

Closed on: Sundays and holidays

Idemitsu Museum of Arts

9th Floor, Teigeki Bldg., 3-1-1, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Phone: +81(0) 50-5541-8600

Admission: ¥1000 (High school and college students: ¥700)

Free admission for children aged 15 or younger (with parent or guardian)

Opening Hours: 10:00～17:00 (last admission at 16:30)

Closed: Mondays (Tuesday if Monday is a holiday), New Year holidays, and during exhibition changeover

Visiting an Urban Oasis

Rikugien Gardens
“Rikugien Gardens” is a Kaiyu-style garden with many elements, such as a pond. It took Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu seven years to create this garden, and it was built on the land given to him for his residence by Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the 5th Shogun. The weeping cherry trees bloom in mid-March and look like a waterfall when in full bloom.
From March 17 to April 3, the weeping cherry trees and the Gardens are illuminated at night. Dress warmly, as a long wait time is expected. 9:00～21:00 (illumination after sunset).
“Fukiage Chaya” offers matcha green tea set. (¥510)

“Rikugien Gardens” is a Japanese garden created by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu, a favorite of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, the 5th shogun. The main attraction here is the weeping cherry trees with magnificent branches. The trees have many fans, and the visitors form a huge line to see the lit-up cherry blossoms every year. During the daytime, cherry trees look pretty and gentle, and they look alluring during the nighttime. The garden is located in a residential area called “Yamato-mura,” so it is very quiet. This well-maintained garden is truly an “urban oasis.”

Toyo Bunko Museum
Established in 1924 by Iwasaki Hisaya, the third president of Mitsubishi, the Toyo Bunko is the oldest and largest research library in Japan. This museum opened in 2011 to promote Oriental studies and is popular for its unique exhibits selected from the library’s collection of approximately 1 million volumes. There is also a café.

Rikugien became the second home of the Mitsubishi founder Iwasaki Yataro during the Meiji period. The Toyo Bunko, located just around the corner, is a research institute/library specializing in Oriental studies, established by Yataro’s son, Hisaya, about 90 years ago. The museum stores an impressive collection, “the Morrison’s Stacks,” and holds unique exhibitions featuring approximately 1 million books, which are sure to stimulate your intellectual curiosity.

Nakazato
Their specialty is “Age-Monaka” (¥186/ piece). The crispy texture of the Monaka (Japanese wafer), lightly deep-fried in sesame oil, and the perfect balance of grilled salt and red bean paste are irresistible. Regulars like to add soft-serve ice cream to it. Shelf life is three days, including the day of the purchase.

You definitely need to have delicious sweets when you enjoy cherry blossoms. 

“Age-Monaka” from “Nakazato” is one of Komagome’s specialties that sells 800 pieces a day. “In spring, many people drop by here when visiting Rikugien Gardens,” says the fifth-generation owner, Suzuki Shun. The monaka is deep-fried in the finest Taihaku sesame oil, so they are fragrant yet light. The harmony of the sweetness of the red bean paste and the flavor of the toasted salt is exquisite. Be sure to get some for cherry blossom viewing and souvenirs. “Hama-rikyu” at the city center and unique “Rikugien”; Please enjoy two very different cherry blossom viewing experiences in Tokyo.

【DATA】

Rikugien Gardens

6-16-3, Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo

Phone: +81(0) 3-3941-2222 (Rikugien Gardens Service Center)

Admission: ¥300 (65 and over: ¥150)

(Free admission for children aged 12 or younger and junior high school students living or attending school in Tokyo)

Opening Hours: 9:00～17:00 (last admission at 16:30)

Free admission on May 4 and October 1

Toyo Bunko Museum

2-28-21, Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo

Phone: +81(0) 3-3942-0280

Admission: ¥900 (Junior high school students and high school students ¥600)

Opening Hours:10:00～19:00 (last admission at 18:30) (Reading room:9:30～16:30)

Closed: Tuesdays. (Wednesday if Tuesday is a holiday), New Year holidays, and during exhibition changeover

Discount available for those who have Rikugien Gardens tickets

Nakazato

1-6-11, Nakazato Kita-ku Tokyo

Phone: +81(0) 3-3823-2571

10:00～18:00

Opening Hours:

Monday-Friday: 10:00～18:00

Saturdays and holidays: 10:00～17:00

Closed: Sundays (Irregular hours)

Sightseeing
Explore the Neighborhood of RIHGA Royal Hotel Tokyo

Stay at the RIHGA Royal Hotel Tokyo and visit spiritual sites and the Kanda River.

Sacred Water with Healing Powers!

Mizu Inari Jinja

Mizu Inari Jinja used to be one of the best Inari shrines in Japan. It was formerly called “Tomizuka Inari,” but the name was changed when underground water was found. It is said that this sacred water cured people’s eye diseases, and the shrine is also known as the god of nightlife business and firefighting. There is also a statue of a fox with a missing ear. It is believed that your pain will be subdued after rubbing the same part of the statue where you feel pain.
This is the local deity of Waseda, and many people visit here to pray before the entrance exam of Waseda University. You can also order amulets for educational success by mail.

Mizu Inari Jinja

3-5-43, Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Free Admission

Phone: +81(0) 3-3200-4621

Cherry Blossoms in a Tranquil Garden
Higo-Hosokawa Garden

After being used as the main residence of the Hosokawa family, the family of the feudal lord of Kumamoto, in the late Edo period, it was changed into a park and opened to the public in the late 1950s. In the center is a Kaiyu-style garden with a pond, and viewing the cherry blossoms with the pond in front of them is breathtaking. Though it is a park, it is enough to be called a garden. The promenade along the Kanda River near the park is also a popular cherry blossom viewing spot crowded with many people in spring.

Higo-Hosokawa Garden

1-1-22, Mejirodai, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo

9:00～17:00 (last admission at 16:30)

(November-January: 9:00～16:30)

Some parts of the garden are under renovation.

Unless otherwise stated, all prices include tax and service charges.
Business Hours may be subject to change without notice. Please check Business Hours before visiting.
This article was originally published in the Spring 2016 issue of The ROYAL.
All products, services, and prices are subject to change.
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