Day 2 Part 3 - Hamarikyu Garden (浜離宮恩賜庭園)

The Hamarikyu Gardens (浜離宮恩賜庭園) used to belong to a daimyo (feudal lord) during the Edo period and used for wild duck hunting and falconry. It is unique in that it contains a tidal (seawater) pool and is surrounded by a moat. In the 19th century, the first western style stone building in Japan was built there and used as a guesthouse for foreign visitors - the Enryokan (延遼館).

Today, it is a public park, regarded as one of the most scenic in Tokyo. However, it is bordered by the modern skyscrapers of Shiodome which some regard as an eyesore, but I don't - I like the juxtaposition and contrast between the ancient feudal garden and the ultra-modern buildings around it.

A map of the gardens:

The following photo illustrates the juxtaposition perfectly - a traditional tea house on a lake (中島の御茶屋) surrounded by skyscrapers (from left to right: Tokyo Twin Parks, Hotel Villa Fontaine, Shiodome Sumitomo building, Conrad building, and the Dentsu building):

The Enryokan no longer exists - however pine trees have been planted on the site of the former building:

There's a huge 300 year old pine tree near the entrance:

A woman is juggling a ring using an umbrella next to this tree:

A Japanese couple in traditional dress walking across a field of rape blossoms (菜の花):

So? Did we see any cherry blossoms? Yes, we did!

There is also a small shrine in the gardens, called the Inou shrine (稲生神社):

The gardens seem to be home for several cats - we saw at least two:

No, the man is NOT drawing a picture of a couple taking photographs, even though it may seem so:

Some more cherry blossoms next to the inner moat:

The teahouse in the middle of the tidal pool (潮入の池) is accessible by a bridge (お伝い橋):

Inside the tea house:

View of the tidal pool from the tea house:

Wisteria trellis:

And finally, a bronze statue of Umashimade no Mikoto (the God of Mars) (可美真手命) - a gift to Emperor Meiji:

Map of area:

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Full album on Picasa:

[2008-04-11] Japan - Hamarikyu Garden