Looking for local experiences in Japan? Ready to discover picturesque, nature-filled hidden gems in Tokyo? This city is home to some of Japan’s most famous tourist attractions, but that’s not all it has to offer. Together with the popular Tokyo-based Taiwanese travel blogger Pink, late this summer the Japankuru team took a trip to two of Tokyo’s cultural heritage gardens: Mukojima-Hyakkaen, a traditional garden not far from Asakusa, and with a clear view of Tokyo Skytree, as well as Tonogayato Garden, a hidden oasis along the JR Chuo Line, known for its autumn foliage. From beautiful seasonal flowers to special events, these gardens offer a greener glimpse of Tokyo.

Guest Profile: Pink

After a 10-month study abroad in Yokohama during her university days, Pink was determined to return to Japan, leading her to find a job and settle down in Tokyo post-graduation. Ten years later, Pink has left her advertising career to focus on blogging about Japan, from everyday life to travel. Today, she creates videos and articles under the name “Pink (瓶顆) Living in Japan,” and has also published a book titled Tokyo Sakura Free Travel (東京桜自由旅行).

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Tokyo Garden Recommendations: ① Mukojima-Hyakkaen
A Tokyo Shitamachi Garden Near Tokyo Skytree

Across the river from Asakusa lies Tokyo’s Sumida Ward, a historic cultural center that helped define “Shitamachi” culture during the Edo period (1603-1868). Since before the city changed its name to Tokyo, the Mukojima area has been known as a go-to spot to enjoy cherry blossoms in spring, fireworks in summer, and flower gardens throughout the year. Artists, poets, and ukiyo-e painters once gathered here for inspiration, and the flower gardens they cherished still survive today in the form of Mukojima-Hyakkaen. One of Tokyo’s nine Metropolitan Cultural Heritage Gardens, this beautiful spot has been designated both a national scenic and historic site!

Unlike gardens built by feudal lords and other samurai, Mukojima-Hyakkaen was created with the tastes of the townspeople in mind, hewing closely to the interests of Tokyo’s intellectual community. It was founded during the Bunka-Bunsei era (1804-1830) by antique dealer Sahara Kiku-u with the support of his literati friends, and the garden first took shape around 360 freshly-planted plum trees, earning it the nickname “Shin-Ume-Yashiki” (the “New Plum Estate”). It was a popular plum-viewing spot, rivaling the fame of the nearby plum garden in Kameido, and Mukojima’s garden became known as a gathering place for poets who came to compose and exchange verse. Later, the garden grew as plants mentioned in classical Japanese works such as The Book of Songs (Shijing) and the Manyoshu were carefully cultivated on the grounds. As new flowers bloomed throughout the seasons, this destination earned the name the “Hyakkaen,” meaning “Garden of a Hundred Flowers.”

More than 200 years since its establishment, visitors can still visit to see the Mukojima-Hyakkaen’s elegant, old-fashioned landscaping, and enjoy the seasonal attractions throughout the year: plum, cherry, and wisteria blossoms in spring; iris, hydrangea, and morning glories in summer; bush clover, red spider lilies, and autumn foliage in fall; narcissus, “fukujuso” flowers, and snow-covered weeping plums in winter. With a little luck and good timing, you can even aim for one of the garden’s seasonal events, like the summer “Insect Listening Party” or the autumn “Moon Viewing Party.”

The Japankuru team scheduled a visit for the opening day of the summer insect-listening event, which provided a rare chance to stay past Mukojima-Hyakkaen’s usual closing time of 5 pm. With the garden open all the way until 9 pm, there was plenty of time to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere long after dark, and listen to the sounds of nature in the middle of the big city.

A Traditional Japanese Garden & Tokyo Skytree: Two Faces of Tokyo

Tokyo is famous for its unique blend of old and new, and at Mukojima-Hyakkaen you can easily see that for yourself, just by looking out for the view of Tokyo Skytree rising above this historical landscape. The winding paths, small bridges, and reflective pond surfaces provide an appealing contrast when viewed before the towering modern landmark, and together they create a one-of-a-kind Tokyo scene, with Tokyo past and present joined together in a single scene.

Some parts of the garden look so far removed from urban Tokyo that it’s almost a shock to see Skytree rising tall in the background, from colorful blooming flowers to tall green grass – each season provides new scenery.

Visit during the early autumn to see one of the garden’s most popular features at its most beautiful – a 30m trellised tunnel covered in vines of bush clover, a profusion of green leaves and tiny purple flowers. In Japan’s classical waka poetry, bush clover is one of Japan’s “Seven Flowers of Autumn,” often used to symbolize a lover or sweetheart, and the plant actually appears more often than plum or even cherry blossoms in the historic Manyoshu poetry compilation. Get the full poetic experience and see the iconic bush clover bloom in late September, when the arched bamboo trellis bursts into life with delicate pink, purple, and white petals!

The 2025 Bush Clover Festival runs from September 13th to October 4th, offering cute little flowers and other Edo-style delights. During festival periods, Mukojima-Hyakkaen also lights Japanese-style lanterns and sets up a variety of seasonal decorations, calling back to festivals and other events enjoyed by the Edo-era artists who frequented the park, and creating an enchanting experience for modern-day visitors – including the Japankuru team and Pink herself.

A Traditional Japanese Insect Listening Party (Mushikiki-no-Kai)

The Mushikiki-no-Kai is a seasonal tradition dating back to the Edo period, an insect listening party held at the end of summer, before the calm quiet of autumn and winter sets in. Fortunately for us, Mukojima Hyakkaen hosted their event from August 28th to 31st, 2025, coinciding perfectly with our visit. Like with other festivals, the garden’s opening hours were extended until 9 pm, and lanterns illuminated the grounds. Visitors strolled through the summer garden in the cool evening breeze, listening to the last insect calls before the garden settled in for colder weather.

One highlight of this unique event is a special “Insect Release Ceremony” (放虫式/hochu-shiki), held each evening from 5 in the evening. Participants receive a small enclosure containing a cricket raised by the garden staff, and are free to choose whichever spot they like, before releasing the young crickets into nature. There are only 30 cricket boxes available per day, and it’s first-come, first-served, so make sure to arrive early if you want to participate!

We received our little cricket enclosure and chose a quiet spot near a small bridge, releasing the cricket into the low greenery by the banks of the stream.

The cricket, after being raised to adulthood by the staff, is sent off into the garden to live its life freely in the garden. As we set them free into their new life, we wished for their health and safety – maybe they returned the favor!

In addition to this cricket release, the event also included displays of different singing insects in Japan, with descriptions of each species and notes on their distinctive calls. After viewing the exhibits, you might be better equipped to recognize and distinguish between the various insect sounds as you walk through the garden.

Even if the flowers are a little less vibrant in the moonlight, Mukojima-Hyakkaen transforms into a beautiful Edo-style landscape on late festival evenings, with glowing lanterns and bright Tokyo Skytree on the horizon.

Lanterns are also lit within the famous bush clover tunnel, gently swaying in the evening breeze, and as Pink (瓶顆) walked ahead of us in her classic yukata, it felt like we could be stepping back in time, to any era in the past hundred years.

After strolling the garden paths and exploring the tunnel, visitors can take a break and rest while enjoying drinks and snacks sold on-site, like beer, amazake (a fermented rice drink), or various flavors of shaved ice.

Sitting under the glowing vine-covered trellises with a bowl of shaved ice in hand is a truly special Tokyo summer experience!

Although this year’s Insect Listening Party ended in late August, another nighttime event is on the schedule from October 5th to 7th! Visit during the Moon Viewing Party (Tsukimi-no-Kai) to stay as late as 9 pm and embrace the Edo-era traditions, which saw poets and scholars gathering at Mukojima-Hyakkaen in mid-autumn to admire the moon and compose verse. The modern-day moon-viewing event also includes displays of traditional offerings, vegetables and fruit grown in the garden, exhibited on traditional moon-viewing stands. From 6 pm each evening, you can also catch musicians playing koto, and on certain days you might see moon-dedication rituals, shinobue flute and shamisen performances, and even tea ceremonies. Check the official announcements from the Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association for details.

Mukojima-Hyakkaen Garden (向島百花園)
3-18-3 Higashimukojima, Sumida City, Tokyo
Hours: 9:00 – 17:00
^{*Last entry 16:30, closed Dec. 29 ~ Jan.3}
Admission: adults 150 yen | seniors (65+) 70 yen | free for children
^{*Free admission for all on Greenery Day, 5/4, and Tokyo Citizen’s Day, 10/1}
Directions: 8 min from Higashi-Mukojima Station (Tobu Skytree Line), 13 min from Keisei-Hikifune Station (Keisei Oshiage Line), 2~3 min from Hyakkaen-mae bus stop
Official Website (jp)｜X (Twitter)｜Instagram (Tokyo’s 9 Gardens)

Nearby: Chomeiji Temple & Sakura Mochi

A 10-minute walk from Mukojima-Hyakkaen will bring you to the historic temple Chomeiji, formally named Hojusan Henjoin Chomeiji, a Tendai-sect Buddhist temple founded in 1615. The temple was originally known as Hojusan Josenji, named after the area’s fresh springs, but when Tokugawa Iemitsu (the third Tokugawa shogun) suffered from stomach pains during a falconry outing in the area, it’s said that drinking from the temple well magically soothed his symptoms. The temple water became known as “chomei-sui” (“long life water”), and the temple itself was renamed “Chomeiji.”

The temple grounds are dotted with stone monuments, including one dedicated to its long-life water (you can also find the restored well itself), as well as a poetry monument for Jippensha Ikku and a haiku monument for Matsuo Basho. Both Chomeiji Temple and Mukojima-Hyakkaen have long been popular destinations as part of the Edo-period pilgrimage known as the “Sumidagawa Shichifukujin Meguri” (Tour of the Seven Lucky Gods of the Sumida River), and to this day, locals continue the tradition of visiting at New Year’s to pray for good fortune!

Chomeiji Temple (長命寺)
5-4-4 Mukojima, Sumida City, Tokyo
Office Hours: 10:00 – 15:00 (entry is generally allowed 24/7, but may vary depending on the season or religious services)
Directions: 10 min from Hikifune Station (Tobu Skytree Line), 15 min from Oshiage Station (Toei Asakusa Line, Hanzomon Line, Tobu Skytree Line, Keisei Oshiage Line)
Official Website (jp)

Got a sweet tooth? No visit to Chomeiji is complete without trying the neighborhood’s famed Chomeiji Sakura Mochi, a traditional sweet sold by the next-door tea shop for over 300 years.

Sakura mochi is now a popular treat found all around Japan, but it’s said that it was first created in 1717 by Yamamoto Shinroku, when he used salted leaves from cherry trees planted along the Sumida River embankment to wrap sweet rice cakes. Yamamoto began selling his newly invented sweet treat at the temple gate, and it quickly became popular among the many cherry blossom viewers who flocked to the river banks – known as one of the best hanami spots in all of Edo. It didn’t take long for the fun seasonal treat to spread across the Japanese islands, becoming a wagashi classic.

Chomeiji Sakura Mochi is made by wrapping smooth red bean paste in a thin crepe-like skin made of wheat and shiratama rice flour, all folded up within a large salted cherry leaf. The resulting treat is delicately fragrant and subtly sweet – an absolute must when visiting this part of Sumida, and even a fun souvenir to bring home for friends and family.

Yamamoto-ya
Chomeiji Sakura Mochi (長命寺桜もち 山本や)
5-1-14 Mukojima, Sumida City, Tokyo
Hours: 8:30 – 18:00 (shortened hours on New Year’s Day, closed Mondays/Tuesdays)
Directions: 10 min from Hikifune Station (Tobu Isesaki Line), 15 min from Oshiage Station (Toei Asakusa Line, Hanzomon Line, Tobu Skytree Line, Keisei Oshiage Line)
Official Website (jp)

Nearby: The Sumida Embankment (and the Sumida Cherry Blossom Festival)

The left bank of the Sumida River, an area sometimes referred to as the “Bokutei” (墨堤), began its journey towards becoming a famed cherry blossom spot when Tokugawa Ietsuna (the fourth shogun of the Edo shogunate) first ordered cherry trees to be planted along the embankment. Later, local legend tells us that the eighth shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune, planted many Somei-Yoshino cherry blossom trees himself. At its historic peak, the riverside cherry blossom area stretched for nearly a kilometer, bursting with pink blossoms on 343 cherry trees!

Even today, the cherry blossoms along the Sumida River remain a hallmark of Tokyo in spring, largely thanks to the many scholars and artists who cherished them over the years. Modern visitors can even see the cherry trees illuminated after dark, making the spot a fabulous destination for spring evenings.

Even out of cherry blossom season, the Sumida riverbank is a refreshing place for a stroll, and as seen in countless works of traditional Japanese art, it has been an essential part of local life from the Edo period right up to the modern day.

Joggers on the riverside paths, skateboarders practicing under the bridges, and commuters passing by on bicycles. The mundane everyday life that happens along the river is a side of Tokyo that many travelers miss, far from the city’s popular sightseeing attractions and busy commercial districts.

Tokyo Garden Recommendations: ② Tonogayato Garden
Tokyo’s Hidden Autumn Foliage Spot, in the Kokubunji Area

After exploring Mukojima-Hyakkaen – on the eastern side of Tokyo, near Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree – our next stop is across the city at Tonogayato Garden, located a 2-minute walk from Kokubunji Station in western Tokyo.

Known as the Tama area, the neighborhood of western Tokyo surrounding Tonogayato Garden is far from the hustle and bustle of the city center, which helps the whole atmosphere feel a little closer to nature. Alongside attractions like Jindai Botanical Garden and Tama Zoological Park, Tonogayato Garden is one of the area’s hidden gems.

Tonogayato Garden was originally built in the early years of the Taisho era (1912-1926) as the villa garden of Eguchi Sadatoki, then vice president of the South Manchuria Railway and a Japanese Diet member. At the time of construction, it was called Zuigi-en, but when Iwasaki Hikoyata of the Mitsubishi family purchased the property in 1929, he made quite a few changes. Iwasaki rebuilt the residence as a blended Japanese-Western style house, added a teahouse called Momiji-tei, and gradually developed the grounds into a forest-and-pond strolling garden, blending classical Japanese aesthetics with touches of Western design.

One of the garden’s most distinctive features is defined by its location, built along the precipice of the Kokubunji Cliff Line, which allows the design to take advantage of the varied topography and natural spring water flowing from among the pebbles below. Combined with dense vegetation, this garden makes the villa feel like a vacation home in the mountains.

Near the entrance, the higher terrace area opens into wide lawns speckled with red pines, maples, bamboo groves, and kuma bamboo grass, planted at different heights to create depth within this dynamic landscape.

The house added to the grounds by Iwasaki is a classic example of a Japanese-style Western residence, which were increasingly popular during the Taisho era. At first glance, the building may appear to be just like a house in Europe or the Americas, but details like lattice windows reveal the Japanese influences. The same fusion is visible inside the house, where the architecture and decoration still reflects the Taisho and early Showa eras.

Perhaps the most picturesque feature of Tonogayato Garden is Momiji-tei, the teahouse perched on the terrace overlooking Jiro Benten Pond. Momiji means “maple,” and true to its name, the teahouse is surrounded by maple trees that provide lush greenery in the summer and blaze with fiery colors in autumn.

From inside the teahouse, the view of the garden looks like a framed painting, as the old-fashioned paper screens and the small outdoor pavilion slice the scenery into elegant vignettes. The teahouse itself is not open year-round (advance reservations required), but the semi-open pavilion just outside is always accessible, serving as a popular resting spot for visitors.

While sitting at Momiji-tei and enjoying one of the best vantage points in the garden, visitors may also hear the gentle knock of a shishi-odoshi (a bamboo water feature you might recognize from Japanese anime or dramas), a sound that instantly evokes the essence of Japan.

At the bottom of the slope is Jiro Benten Pond, another garden highlight shaped by the area’s natural river terrace topography, and fed by spring water emerging from the base of the slope. The pond feels full of life, its surface is in constant motion thanks to the small streams flowing down from higher ground.

Climbing a small set of steps beyond the pond brings you into a grove of towering Moso bamboo. The rustling sounds feel like a reminder of days long past, and the unusually large scale of Tonogayato’s bamboo path makes it feel like it almost doesn’t belong in Tokyo. On the other side of the path is a row of maples, which create a striking contrast with the bamboo later in the year. The traditional garden paths feel like the perfect place to wander in a traditional yukata, and for a moment, as we watched Pink walk ahead of us, it felt like we’d taken a wrong step and slipped back in time.

Similar to Mukojima-Hyakkaen (although not quite as impressive in scale), Tonogayato Garden also features a bush clover tunnel, which blooms each year from mid to late September.

During the Japankuru team’s visit in August, the bush clover was not yet in full bloom, but there were already a few early bloomers hinting at the beauty to come.

Tonogayato Garden (殿ヶ谷戸庭園)
2-16 Minamicho, Kokubunji, Tokyo
Hours: 9:00 – 17:00
^{*Last entry 16:30, hours may be extended for garden events, garden closed Dec. 29 ~ Jan. 1)}
Admission: adults 150 yen | seniors (65+) 70 yen | free for children
^{*Free admission for all on Greenery Day, 5/4, and Tokyo Citizen’s Day, 10/1}
Directions: 2 min from Kokubunji Station (JR Chuo Line, Seibu Kokubunji Line, Seibu Tamako Line)
Official Website (jp)｜X (Twitter)

Nearby: Otaka-no-Michi and Masugata-no-Ike Springs

Leave Tonogayato Garden and walk about 20 minutes southwest to reach one of the most popular areas around Kokubunji Station, a walking spot called Otaka-no-Michi. During the Edo period, the Kokubunji area was designated as the hunting grounds of the Owari Tokugawa family, and today, the path beside the clear spring water that flows into the Nogawa River is known as Otaka-no-Michi. The path has been developed into a scenic trail, about 350 meters long, abundant in the kind of seasonal beauty beloved by locals and visitors alike. From spring to early summer, the calla lilies that bloom along both sides of the path are particularly famous, but the relaxed atmosphere blends in with the quiet neighborhood scenery. It’s what you might call a signature Kokubunji attraction.

Natural springs can be found within the Tonogayato Garden and beyond, with fresh water springing up throughout the surrounding region, but if you’re in the area, it’s worth looking for the Masugata-no-Ike springs – found on the Otaka-no-Michi route. Because of the pristine environment, this site has been chosen by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment as one of the so-called “100 Exquisite and Well-Conserved Waters of Japan,” as well as one of the “57 Famed Springs of Tokyo.”

The water here is strikingly clear, and on the hot August afternoon when the Japankuru team visited the spring, kids were dipping their toes in the water to cool off. It’s truly a peaceful spot, like a hidden forest spring, tucked away in the middle of one of Tokyo’s residential neighborhoods.

Otaka-no-Michi/Masugata-no-Ike Springs (お鷹の道・真姿の池湧水群)
3 Higashimotomachi, Kokubunji, Tokyo
Directions: 15 min from Kokubunji Station (JR Chuo Line, Seibu Kokubunji Line, Seibu Tamako Line), or 12 min from Nishi-Kokubunji Station (JR Chuo Line or Musashino Line)
Official Website (jp)

As you stroll along Otaka-no-Michi toward the Masugata-no-Ike springs, the route winds past residential blocks and through surprisingly dense bamboo groves. In some places, narrow canals run between the houses, with cozy paths and little bridges constructed to offer pedestrians a way through.

The walk from Kokubunji Station might seem like the least exciting part of this journey… at first. But if you keep an eye out, you’ll find some surprises along the way! Our first discovery was a series of vividly colored, three-dimensional woodblock-style carvings displayed along the path, but despite the area’s quiet residential atmosphere, you’ll also come across a handful of little cafes and sweet shops.

History buffs may also appreciate walking through Kokubunji more after learning of its history. Over a thousand years ago, in Japan’s Nara period (710-794), Emperor Shomu ordered the establishment of provincial temples (kokubunji) and convents (kokubunniji) across Japan in an effort to protect the nation. In those days, Musashi Province was the largest of the Japanese provinces, covering all of modern Tokyo, Saitama, and part of Kanagawa, but the provincial temples and convents were built in this area of modern western Tokyo, now named after the institutions. Although centuries of war and natural disasters have left the historic temple structures damaged or destroyed, you can still explore the archaeological remains.

Explore Tokyo’s Historic Gardens – Experience the Elegance of Japan for Yourself

Across the world, Japanese gardens are known for their beautiful design, so perhaps it’s no surprise that throughout our visit to two of Tokyo’s most distinctive gardens, time and time again we heard Pink exclaiming “how elegant!” From the small potted plants at the entrance of Tonogayato Garden that change with the seasons and the free parasol rentals provided on hot summer days, to the beautifully crafted picture lanterns and seasonal decorations at Mukojima-Hyakkaen, each detail offered a tangible reminder of how Japanese culture embraces the changing of the seasons.

For the Japankuru editorial team, this trip was a reminder that Japan’s traditional elegance isn’t just something confined to the classical poetry of the past, but something that can still be discovered in modern-day Tokyo! If you’d like to hear more of Pink’s thoughts on this outing, you can check out her YouTube channel and Instagram, and for more information on Tokyo’s gardens, be sure to visit the official website of the Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association!

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