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Perfect Guide to Hamarikyu Garden – Spring Flowers, Matcha & Travel Information

Hamarikyu Garden is one of the biggest Japanese gardens in Tokyo City. In my opinion, the best thing of Hamarikyu Garden is its large flower field. I must say that it is stunning that yellow spring flowers sheet the field in mid Tokyo!

The Flower Field in Hamarikyu Garden, Tokyo, Japan

These are rape/colza flowers (nanohana in Japanese) that flourish in late March to early April. Yes, we can see cherry blossoms in the same seasonIN NORMAL YEARS. I’ll explain it later.

Nanohana in Hamarikyu Garden

 

Yellow Flowers and Blue Sky

Sweet smells are in every breeze, so it’s like strolling in heaven.

 

People Strolling in the Yellow Flower Garden
Birds Flying from the Flowers

 




 



In Japan, nanohana is one of the icons of spring. They are wildflowers that bloom anywhere, they can be oils, and they are even eatable. Young stems and leaves taste so elegant when boiled with a little plain soy sauce.

 

 

 

Nanohana and plum blossoms in 2016

Well, winter in 2016 was too abnormal. It is INCREDIBLE that I’m posting this in FEBRUARY. It was so warm in January, so many spring blossoms were mistaken about when exactly they should bloom. As a result, the rare case occurred that nanohana fully bloomed at the same time to plum blossoms! (The next post will be about the rare views of plum blossoms AND nanohana.)
Please let me repeat that the season of nanohana is late March to early April when cherry blossoms open.

This flower garden has its season again in autumn. In September, colorful cosmoses fill the garden.

One more important thing.
Hamarikyu Garden is one of the few spots to experience true matcha sets.

Matcha and Fresh Sweet Set in Hamarikyu Garden

There are two types of sets; One is this fresh sweets set (720 yen) and the other is steamed sweets set (510 yen).
I advise you to choose the fresh sweet set. You can see steamed sweets (manju in Japanese) not only at matcha houses but in many other places in Japan, and even in East Asia, but the fresh sweet is very Japanese in appearance and tastes. Moreover, it is fresh sweets that come along with a cup of matcha in matcha ceremonies. I’m not saying that steamed sweets are not good, but I don’t find any reason to miss the Japanese fresh sweet when you are in the matcha house.

The shapes change in seasons, and there are several shapes in one season. For example, this is cherry blossom in spring.

Japanese Fresh Sweet

The taste is straightly sweet, so I think that there are few chances that it is something unbearable for you. The filling is made of sweet beans. When I visited there, I saw nanohana-shaped sweets, too.
It is like forming clay into arts to make Japanese fresh sweets like this. It is a must for me to enter the matcha house at the center of the pond and have a relaxing time with a cup of matcha.

The Matcha House in Hamarikyu Garden

Tip: When you enter the matcha house, you put off your shoes. Check your socks!

Hope you enjoyed Hamarikyu Garden here in Tokyo Direct Diary, and have a great spring day!

 

Visitor Information & Useful Links

Opening Hours
9:00 – 17:00, Entrance by 16:30 (Closed on several days at the end the year and the New Year.)

Admission Fees
300 yen. (150 yen for those who are older than 64, free for children under 13)

How to Get to Hamarikyu Gardens

The near station is Shimbashi of JR, Ginza Subway Line and Asakusa Subway Line. It is 12 minutes walk to Hamarikyu Garden. You can walk from Hamamatsucho, too.
Tsukiji Shijo Station of Oedo Subway Line is the nearest to Hamarikyu Gardens; It is 7 minutes walk.
Or, there are ferries that directly stop at the wharf inside Hamarikyu Gardens. You can catch them in Odaiba, Asakusa and Ryogoku district.

Learn Tokyo with The Easiest JR Train Map & Subway Maps by Tokyo Direct Guide! (The links will open in new windows.)

Tip: Go out of Shiodome Exit when you arrive at Shimbashi Station. It is the nearest to the garden. I encourage you to get a copy of the map.

Link to Google Maps

Articles Tagged Cherry Blossoms (Sakura) by Tokyo Direct Diary

Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Forecast for Japan 2016

The Full-Blooming Weeping Cherry Tree in the Japanese Garden of Rikugien – photos & reports – Rikugien Garden is another large Japanese garden in Tokyo that offers matcha.

Autumn Colors in Tokyo City #01 – Red Maple Leaves & Genuine Matcha in Rikugien Garden

Tokyo Direct Guide – All-In-One, All Free, The Quickest Travel Guide Site for international travelers by a local.

A Guide to Hamamatsucho – All About its Attractions, Hotels and Transportation – Accommodation advice by a Tokyo local.


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