Overview
Surrounded by and then crisscrossed with scores of rivers and canals, it's no wonder that parks and gardens almost overflow in Koto City Ward. The more impressive spaces can be found towards the city's southern boundaries though in the northern part of the city lies one of Tokyo's most impressive traditional gardens. Here is an introduction to some of the parks and gardens of Koto and how to reach them.
Kiyosumi-teien Garden
With its magnificent scenic pond, landscape stones collected from across the country and a memorial hall for the late Emperor Taisho, Kiyosumi-teien Garden is clearly one of Tokyo's top traditional strolling gardens. Once the property of a wealthy Edo-period merchant, the paltry JPY150 admission fee belies its sophisticated heritage.
A 3-minute walk from Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station on either the Hanzomon or Toei Oedo lines.
Kiba Park
The ample green space of Kiba Park was once the staging ground for the lumber industry. These days, split into two by the Sendaibori River, the park has become home to a very impressive suspension bridge, tennis courts, and botanical gardens. Along with many children play areas, the park is also the location for the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo.
A 5-minute walk from Kiba Station on the Tozai Line.
Sarue Onshi Park
The cherry blossoms along the Yokojikken River make Sarue Onshi Park a great destination during spring. The park itself is separated into two areas by Shin-Ohashi Avenue with the northern area home to play areas for children, a clock tower and large pond. The southern section features a few more ponds, baseball fields and plenty of space to relax.
A 1-minute walk from Sumiyoshi Station on the Hanzomon Line.
Yumenoshima Park
Home to a popular tropical plants greenhouse, Yumenoshima Park is a reclaimed area of the city now filled with sports fields, cherry blossoms, BBQ areas and even a history museum. The park is surrounded by the manmade canals drawn from the Arakawa River and while admission to the greenhouse is JOY250, the park itself is free.
A 10-minute walk from Shin-Kiba Station on the Yurakucho or JR Keiyo lines.
