Former Shiba Rikyu Garden, Minato

Former Shiba Rikyu Garden stands as one of Tokyo's oldest surviving feudal lord gardens from the early Edo period, alongside Koishikawa Korakuen. Located on land that was originally part of Tokyo Bay and reclaimed between 1655 and 1658, the garden was established in 1678 when senior councilor Okubo Tadatomo commissioned garden designers from the Odawara Domain to create a residence garden called Rakujuen. The garden changed ownership multiple times throughout its history, passing through the Kishu Tokugawa family in the late Edo period, then to the Arisugawa-no-miya clan in 1871, before being purchased by the Imperial Household Agency in 1875 to become the Shiba Detached Palace. After the Great Kanto Earthquake destroyed all buildings and trees on the site in 1923, the garden was donated to Tokyo City in 1924 to commemorate Emperor Hirohito's wedding and opened to the public.

The garden exemplifies the classic circular pond strolling garden design typical of the early Edo period. At its center lies Sensui Pond, covering 9,000 square meters and inspired by West Lake in Hangzhou, China. The pond features four islands including the main Nakajima, which visitors can access via stone bridges. Originally a saltwater pond drawing water from Tokyo Bay, it was converted to freshwater after surrounding land reclamation. The garden includes a sandy beach area called Suhama in one corner, though swimming is not permitted. Stone arrangements throughout the garden represent Mount Horai, the Chinese symbol of immortality, with rocks on the central island representing the mountains of West Lake.

Visitors can explore the garden along circular walking paths that offer varied perspectives of the landscape, completing a circuit in approximately 30 minutes. The compact 4.3-hectare (approximately 43,175 square meters) site creates an intimate experience that allows visitors to appreciate traditional Japanese garden design principles efficiently. Seasonal interest includes cherry blossoms, wisteria and azaleas in spring, irises in summer, red spider lilies in early autumn, and colorful foliage in late autumn. The pond houses koi carp, ducks, herons and white egrets year-round, with migratory birds such as cormorants occasionally visiting.

The garden is just one minute walk from the north exit of JR Hamamatsucho Station on the Yamanote Line, or two minutes from Daimon Station on both the Oedo and Asakusa subway lines. Takeshiba Station on the Yurikamome line is a seven-minute walk away. The garden is situated approximately five minutes south of Tokyo Station by JR Yamanote Line. Admission is 150 yen for general visitors and 70 yen for seniors aged 65 and older. The nearby Hama Rikyu Gardens can be reached on foot in approximately 15 minutes, and Takeshiba Pier, where ferries and dinner cruises depart for Tokyo Bay, lies just east of the garden.