Hama-Rikyu Gardens
September 26, 1999
Today we made a quick trip to Tokyo's Hama-Rikyu Gardens. It's located next to the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, just minutes away from the Ginza district, and right on the Sumida River. Its's also only a 15-minute walk from Shimbashi station. Admission is only 300 yen, so it's relatively cheap, with FREE parking in front!!!
Historical information from the brochure: (Obviously written in native English)
This area was an official hunting ground for the Tokugawa Shogunate in 17th Century. This vast reed field was reclaimed to build the residence of a regional feudal lord. In 1704, it became a shogun's second residence, and was called "Hama-goten (palace)." In the Meiji Era, the Garden was renamed Hama-rikyu. The Meiji Emperor met with President/General Grant of the United States in this garden.
Hama-rikyu Garden has a typical Edo Era setting which took advantage of the beauty of the waterfront location and the rippling waves of today's Tokyo Bay. The ebb and flow at the sea delicately changes in the views of the pond and the garden. There are two duck hunting grounds. The Garden is designated a special historic site/special place of scenic beauty by the national government.
Here are a few pictures we took during the visit:
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Small photo (320 x 240) |
Large photo (800 x 600) |
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Haruko points to the garden map at the entrance. If you look at the large photo, you can read the history of the garden and see the detail in the map! |
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Robert is standing in an open area with lots of grass, which reminds us of California. Unfortunately, there are tall buildings (including Tokyo Tower) in the background, which you would not find in a Japanese garden or temple in Kyoto. Spread throughout the grass is Higan-bana, which reminds us of the California Agapansas. The Higan-bana rises tall from the grass and blooms like a ball of fireworks in the autumn. "Higan" means the week of autumn equinox (now), and "hana" means flower. |
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This is the Shin-senza duck hunting ground. The explanation in the gardens said that ducks were often hunted from this lake. Domestic ducks raised in this lake were used as decoys. When the people would knock on wooden doors at the end of canals leading from this lake, the decoy ducks would go and bring wild ducks after them. Hunters would then close the canals and catch the ducks with nets waiting from the bushes. This place was actually quite dirty and very unmaintained for a long time. We both got lots of insect bites on our legs while walking in this area L . Robert adjusted the exposure level on the Sony digital camera and made this picture turn our much nicer than it looked in person! (Tokyo Tower is in the background.) |
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Here's a view of the main pond in the garden, the Shioiri-no-ike Pond. This is the only sea water pond in Tokyo. As the sea water tide ebbs and flows in the pond, it simultaneously changes the scenery. |
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In the middle of the pond (from the other direction) is Nakajima-no-chaya, a tea house. This tea house was built in 1707, and generations of shoguns, their wives, and noblemen enjoyed the view. The building was rebuilt in 1983. Tea service with candy was offered in the tea house for 500 yen, but we passed on that. We were getting hungry but decided to get a more satisfying meal elsewhere… |
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Here's one more view of the Shioiri-no-ike Pond. It's shows two islands in the pond connected by three bridges. The right-most bridge is called Otsutai-bashi. It is a 118-meter long bridge constructed entirely of Japanese cypress cedar. The bridge links the shore of Shioiri-no-ike Pond, Konoji-shima Island, and Nakajima Island. The bridge was rebuilt in May, 1997. |
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