8 Best Gardens & Parks in Tokyo: My Personal Favorites (2026)

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (Famous & Expansive)

Originally the land of a feudal lord, Shinjuku Gyeon National Garden opened to the public in 1949. This massive green space consists of multiple styles of gardens as well as a greenhouse. While exploring the garden, I was taken aback at how large the space is yet how perfectly it is maintained. It feels like everywhere you look could be a postcard picture. My favourite part was the Japanese Garden and Taiwan Pavillion which were perfect for enjoying beautiful views and snapping some amazing pictures. It may seem intimidating to visit such a large greenspace, but it is worth it just to see the aforementioned spots, and I honestly didn’t need to spend too much time here to enjoy the garden and take everything in. Apparently, the space is also incredible during cherry blossom season, with the park containing multiple varieties of cherry trees, so I hope to someday visit again during this time period!

Yoyogi Park & Meiji Jingu Shrine (Underrated & Serene)

If you are visiting Tokyo for the first time, you are more likely than not intending to visit Meiji Jingu Shrine. This famous shrine is incredible in its own right, but equally stunning is the forestry that you walk through to reach the shrine. With the tall trees lining the sides of the path, the natural landscape really shapes the experience of visiting the shrine, so come early and enjoy the beautiful nature around the shrine. If you want to explore even more greenery, then nearby Yoyogi Park is a great option. I randomly decided to visit this park prior to entering the Meiji Jingu Shrine area and I am so glad that I did. Despite just being a city park there were so many different types of trees and flowers, with each section of the park having a unique vibe. If you enjoy strolling through parks and have some extra time then definitely check out Yoyogi Park, it sets an excellent standard for what an amazing park should look like.

Hamarikyu Gardens (Nature Meets The City)

Many green spaces in Tokyo are nestled within the city, creating a stark contrast between nature and the surrounding high rise buildings. The most compelling garden I visited with this sort of vibe is the Hamarikyu Gardens. When exiting nearby Shimbashi Station, you are greeted by a large commercial city centre, but if you walk for less than 10 minutes you reach a beautiful garden oasis on the water. From the garden, you can take in the beautiful views of the greenery and also admire the surrounding development. Aside from the typical greenery you would see at the other gardens/parks on this list, the clear defining feature of this garden is the Nakajima Tea House which is situated on the water in the garden. I sadly didn’t try the match and sweets that were offered at the tea house but I enjoyed the stroll across the bridges over the water and walking down the surrounding paths. There are also some heritage buildings you can pop into along the paths which is always a welcome sight because you can enjoy an extra piece of Japanese history and culture as you enjoy the garden!

Imperial Palace Gardens (Beautiful Historical Ambiance)

While visiting the Imperial Palace Gardens I came quite unprepared. Essentially, if you would like to view the inner grounds of the palace you need to take a guided tour at a specific time, which I wasn’t aware of. For anyone wondering, you also cannot actually enter the Imperial Palace because it is the private residence of the Emperor. Nonetheless, I visited with no regrets because I still got to enjoy the stunning outer gardens! These gardens consist of the Kokyo Gaien National Garden and Imperial Palace East National Gardens, both of which offer dense gardens and views of the palace complex. Although the Imperial Palace on its own is not quite as stunning as many of the other historical structures you may see in Japan, the combination with the gardens, walls, and surrounding moat create a unique beauty that everyone should experience!

Hotel New Ohtani Japanese Garden (Picture Perfect Zen Garden)

When you think of visiting a garden your first thought probably isn’t to head to the sixth floor of a hotel. Moreover, you probably wouldn’t expect that a garden on the sixth floor of a hotel would have a waterfall. This describes the Hotel New Ohtani Japanese Garden, with the only thing missing from this description is that this place is a picture perfect Japanese garden. Prior to visiting Japan, my only exposure to a Japanese garden was visiting the one located within the Montreal Botanical Garden (which is probably one of my favourite places on Earth, especially after living in Montreal for 5 years, but I will save talking about that for a future blog post). Here, I got to learn a bit about Japanese gardens, and I remember seeing the concept of raking patterns surrounding rocks to visualize ripples in water for the first time. I first saw this feature of dry landscape / zen gardens at this garden in Tokyo and although it may seem a bit trivial it was really cool to see something I had learned about come to life at the source. That small feature aside, this garden is literally perfect. From the paths to the beautiful central bridge to the beautiful waterfall, this feels like the most meticulously crafted garden I have ever visited. It isn’t massive given that it’s in a hotel, but you can spend a solid half hour here exploring the paths and taking in the views. If you want to experience a classic Japanese garden with no fluff then I can’t recommend this spot more!

Daiba Park and Odaiba Beach (Best City Views)

If you are visiting Odaiba in Tokyo, you are probably going shopping, intending to visit a recreational facility like Joypolis or Round 1, or checking out the massive Unicorn Gundam statue. That is what I did during my first visit to this area but the second time I visited I decided to explore the surrounding waterfront area more. This ended up being the highlight of coming to this area for me, as I got to walk along the beautiful Odaiba Beach around to Daiba Park. At the beach, they were preparing to release lanterns into the sky while I was there. I sadly had dinner plans and had to leave before they were released but if you are visiting the area definitely see if there are any events happening on the beach. As I was walking along the beach though, a park across the water caught my attention, so I walked over to Daiba Park. This park is tiny but it makes up for it with the beautiful views of the city. On one side, you can see Odaiba and on the opposite side you can see Rainbow Bridge and some city skyline of Tokyo. I sadly came too early for the lights to come on, but in the evening Rainbow Bridge lights up and the city skyline comes to life as well. If you want a unique view of the city in a space where there appears to be virtually no tourists (in fact there was nearly nobody at all when I visited) then you should definitely go to Daiba Park, especially in the evening.

Ueno Park (A Bit of Everything)

Although I have never personally stayed here, Ueno is known as an excellent part of the city to stay in for travellers. It is probably the most well connected area of the city to other major tourist areas, as well as the airports, while still having plenty of food and nightlife options nearby, including Ameyoko Market. Aside from these benefits, Ueno is also home to Ueno Park, Japan’s most popular city park. Here, you can see pretty much everything. For just a shortlist of things you can do; you can enjoy a walk around Shinobazu pond and the surrounding green spaces, visit the Ueno Zoo, visit the Tokyo National Museum, The Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, or The National Museum of Western Art, explore the shrines and historical buildings in the park, etc. Whether you just want to enjoy beautiful greenspaces / ponds / gardens, or if you want to visit museums or the zoo, everyone can find something that they enjoy at Ueno Park. I personally just explored the park grounds but perhaps on my next trip to Japan I will explore more of the museums!

Inokashira Park (Tranquil Lake and Ghibli Museum)

During my most recent trip to Tokyo, I had the opportunity to finally visit the famous Ghibli Museum. It was very difficult to get tickets so I am incredibly grateful that I was able to snag some because I am a huge Studio Ghibli fan. On the way to the museum I toom a stroll around Inokashira Park, which I had visited on one of my previous trips and hadn’t even realized that it is home to the Ghibli Museum! This greenspace is expansive and absolutely beautiful. There is a path that surrounds a pretty sizable lake which contains stunning views, cute bridges, and a beautiful shrine along the path. Beyond the lake, the park extends towards the Inokashira Park Zoo or Ghibli Museum in either direction, both of which are also shrouded in greenery. An added bonus of visiting this park is that it is located in Kichijoji, which is considered one of the most desirable communities to live in within Tokyo. This is for good reason, after a stroll around the park you can explore the shopping streets on the opposite side of the train station from the park and if your are in the area late enough you can visit the izakayas in Harmonica Yokocho for a more laid back and less busy izakaya vibe. You could come to Kichijoji just to visit Inokashira Park and have a lovely afternoon, but with everything else Kichijoji has to offer I am surprised that more tourists don’t come to this area!

Tokyo is a super underrated green city that has beautiful nature spots woven right into the urban landscape. No matter if you are looking for a peaceful traditional garden, a massive park with museums, or unique city views, there is a green space in Tokyo for you. If you want to learn more about food and travel in Tokyo make sure to checkout my other blog posts on the best areas of the city to get a bite, my favorite hidden gems and lowkey spots, and my guide for where to go when you visit Tokyo. Also, make sure to follow me on my social media platforms and checkout my other blog posts if you enjoy my content!