The Hamarikyu gardens are a public park just over an hours walk from where we are living. It was opened to the public in 1946 and the gardens were developed on a site that used to contain a villa of a Shogun around the 17th century and prior to that had a history of providing a place for the Japanese royal family to escape and enjoy some time relaxing near Tokyo bay.
It is mind blowing to think that people have been using this spot for relaxation for hundreds of years. At the entrance to the park there is a pine tree over 300 years old and some of the islands that provide platforms for the bridges were built around the same time.
The centre piece of the gardens is a teahouse in the middle of the pond that provides traditional Japanese tea ceremonies.
The gardens are also know as a place to come and see flowers that are planted to ensure that at least one display of spectacular flowers can be observed all year round. When I visited this time the rape was in flower along with the beginning of the plum blossoms.
The people of the area also take advantage of the gardens for photos of the milestones in their lives. This couple had just got married and decided to have some of their photos taken in the garden over looking the pond and teahouse.
It is mind blowing to think that people have been using this spot for relaxation for hundreds of years. At the entrance to the park there is a pine tree over 300 years old and some of the islands that provide platforms for the bridges were built around the same time.
The centre piece of the gardens is a teahouse in the middle of the pond that provides traditional Japanese tea ceremonies.
The gardens are also know as a place to come and see flowers that are planted to ensure that at least one display of spectacular flowers can be observed all year round. When I visited this time the rape was in flower along with the beginning of the plum blossoms.
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