Top 5: Most Beautiful Parks in Tokyo, Japan

Towering skyscrapers and bustling crowds may make up a typical Tokyo scene, but the city is also home to some fantastic parks. Here are some of the best ones to visit.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Just 10 minutes from Shinjuku station, this garden is a great way to escape the madding crowds. There is plenty to see in the 58-hectare park, which has Japanese gardens as well as French formal and English landscape areas.

Imperial Palace East Garden

Visitors to the Imperial Palace should make a point of visiting the East Garden, free to enter. Inside there is the ruin of an old castle keep as well as the Museum of Imperial Collections, which shows off the royal family’s art collection.

The Institute for Nature Study National Reserve

This place is found right in the center of the city, a somewhat unexpected feature of the Meguro neighborhood. It is used by scientists studying the natural environment of Tokyo, but visitors are welcome to enter for a small fee.

Yoyogi Park

A large park found near Harajuku Station, this place is hugely popular with locals. It was also the site of the first powered aircraft flight in Japan, in 1910.

Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park

Unlike the rest of the parks on this list, Chichibu-Tama-Kai is found outside the city limits. This huge national park stretches west from the city and encompasses some amazing mountains, such as Mount Mitake.