Sakura 2016: Inokashira Park

Visit Date: 03/27/2016 (Best Time: early April)

Inokashira Park is a 43-hectares park located on the western side of Tokyo and sits on both Mitaka and Musashino cities. It is easily accessible via the lively Kichijoji neighborhood. It is estalished in 1917 and it is considered as one of the oldest park in Tokyo.

A large pond stretches across the park which has about 250 cherry trees lining its banks. The branches of the cherry trees spread and reflected over the water creates a stunning view during the cherry blossom season. Visitors can also enjoy the view from the water through the rented paddle and row boats.

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Sakura 2016: Koganei Park

Visit Date: 03/26/2016 (Best Time: early to mid April)

Koganei Park (小金井公園) is an 80 hectares wide open park located in the western suburbs of Tokyo. It is about 40-60 minutes away from central Tokyo.

The park provides a wide variety of activities with its children’s park, tennis courts, broad expanse of grass covered fields, archery range, baseball field, steam locomotive display, and a lot more. The park is considered as one of the best 100 Sakura Spots in Japan with about 1,700 cherry trees planted around the park, where most of it are found in the Cherry Garden, located in front of the interesting Edo-Tokyo Open Air Museum.

Koganei_Park_01 Entrance towards the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Museum.

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Autumn 2015: Tonogayato Garden

Visit Date: 11/29/2015 (Best viewing Time: late November to early December)

Tonogayato Garden (殿ヶ谷戸庭園) is a 21,124 m2 traditional Japanese garden in Kokubunji, Tokyo. It was constructed from 1913 to 1915 as part of a villa for Teijo Eguchi, the Vice-President of the Manchurian Railway. In 1974, the garden was purchased by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government from Iwasaki family, who acquired the garden in 1929, and it was opened to the public in 1979. It was designated as a cultural asset or a “Place of Scenic Beauty” in 1998.

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Autumn 2015: Rikugien Garden

Visit Date: 11/22/2015 (Best viewing Time: late November to early December)

Rikugien Garden (六義園) in Bunkyō-ku is famed as one of the most beautiful traditional Japanese garden in Tokyo. It is a typical Edo Period strolling garden which consists of a small pond, river, trees, and hills surrounded by forested areas.

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Autumn 2015: Chureito Pagoda

Visit Date: 11/03/2015 (Best viewing Time: late October to mid November)

The Fujiyoshida Cenotaph Monument also known as Chureito Pagoda (忠霊塔) is a part of the Arakura Sengen Shrine in Fujiyoshida. It was built in 1958 to enshrine about 960 citizens who died in the wars which occurred after 1868. The location offers a great view of the city and Mt. Fuji.

Chureito_Pagoda01 Maple leaves around the pagoda are starting to turn red while most of the cherry leaves have fallen.

 

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