15th September 2008: Hama-rikyu Gardens --- Minato-ku

Hama-rikyu Gardens is located alongside Tokyo Bay, about 10-minute walk from Shiodome Station on the Toei-Oedo and Yuri-kamome lines. Despite its location in the middle of Tokyo, such magnificent Japanese gardens still survive and attract viewers. Seawater tidal ponds, which even today retain the function, as well as two duck hunting grounds are some of the garden’s attractions. Outer fort of Edo castle during the Edo period, is now Tokyo Metropolitan park, well-known as a family garden of Tokugawa Shogun.

Enough preliminaries, well here are some beautiful sceneries of Hama-rikyu gardens as below.
*Please click photo for larger image

Left: Pine trees, Center: Nakajima bridge, Right: View from Mt.Fujimi of Hama-rikyu


Left: Nakajima tea house, Center: Small island resembling that of Mt. Horai, Right: Konoji-shima (island)


Traditional Kagura dance and music in front of 300-year-old pine tree
Left: Ball-spinning trick with the umbrella, Center: Square-spinning, Right: Juggling with 3 sticks


Left: Glass of water on the little table,
Center: Holding the long pole with his teeth, still the glass water is on the top of the pole
Right: 300-year-old pine tree

(Garden information)
Admission fee is 300 yen; free for elementary school age and younger as well as People aged 65 or over. Free tour guidance is held on weekends; English guidance is also available on Saturday morning. For the availability and further information, please contact to Hama-rikyu Gardens #03-3541-0200.
Hama-rikyu Gardens Home Page (English)
http://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/english/park/detail_04.html#hamarikyu