There are three main, beautiful traditional Japanese gardens in Tokyo. Rikugi-en, Koishikawa-en, and Hamarikyu, The first two are respectively two blocks and two subway stops away from my home in Bunkyo-ku.

The construction of Rikugi-en took place between 1695 and 1702 and is a typical example of a garden from the Edo period. The founder of Mitsubishi, Iwasaki Yataro bought the garden in 1878 and restored it.[2]

In 1938, it was donated to the Tokyo City government. It was specified as a special place of scenic beauty (特別名勝 tokubetsu meishō?) by the Japanese government in 1953.

The first group of photos show Rikugien which is quite large and wooded while Koishikawa garden is much more compact. Rikugien has large crowds in the Spring to view the cheery trees lit up at night and in the Autumn when the leaves are turning gold.

Finally. Shinjyuku Gyou-en can not be overlooked with its fine garden as well.