Hamarikyu Garden - 浜離宮庭園

Right on the back of Shiodome, only 10 minutes away from the JR 新橋駅, there is the Hamarikyu Garden (浜離宮庭園). it was constructed as a residence of a feudal lord in 17th century, and this area was a official duck hunting ground for the Tokugawa Shogun, under the name of 'Hamagoden'.
After the Meiji Restoration, the garden became a detached palace of the Emperor's family, and the present name was adopted. In 1945, the ownership of the garden was transferred to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and has been open to the public ever since as a metropolitan park.


中 島の御茶屋 (Nakajima-no-ochaya), or the Tea House of the Middle Island, in the top left corner, with the Shiodome on its back, reflected in the water of the Shiori-no-ike (潮入の池）, the big tidal pond in the center of the garden. Actually, this tea house has been destroyed several times, and the present one was rebuilt only in 1982.


It is always nice to see the contrast between the old-fashioned buildings inside the garden, like the rest area in the picture above, with the surrounding skyscrapers.

Though the garden is surrounded by port, distribution and
energy facilities that have supported the development of Tokyo, the garden still maintains the atmosphere of the good, old Edo.

The "300 years old pine" (3百年の松), in the picture below, is considered to be the biggest pine tree in Tokyo. It is said also that the tree was planted by the 6th Shogun Ienobu himself in 17th century.