Located north of the Imperial Palace, Kitanomaru-koen Park is a nice place for a stroll, especially when you’ve had enough of the concrete jungle nearby. Pair it with a visit to the Imperial Palace East Gardens and Yasukuni-jinja Shrine.
Kitanomaru-koen Park - image © Florentyna Leow
Once a medicinal garden in a former life, Kitanomaru-koen Park is now a public park and one of Tokyo’s few green oases.
Kitanomaru-koen Park - image © Florentyna Leow
It’s located between Yasukuni Shrine and the Imperial Palace East Gardens, and strolling through all three on a cool day is a nice way to spend a few hours.
Kitanomaru-koen Park - image © Florentyna Leow
Along the way, you’ll pass the Nippon Budokan, immortalized by the Cheap Trick Album "Live at Budokan.” (When you pass, you can just about hear an echo of Robin Zander announcing "I want you to want me!”) You’ll also find the Science Museum, Nippon Budokan and the National Museum of Modern Art on the park grounds.
Kitanomaru-koen Park - image © Florentyna Leow
If you’re not walking through the park, you can follow the circuit surrounding Chidorigafuchi Moat. This is most scenic in springtime when the cherry blossom trees are in full bloom, though walking through can be a little congested with all the sakura revelers. There’ll also be a long queue to rent paddle boats at the peak of cherry blossom time. The surface of the moat is covered in pink lotuses during the summer months, which doesn’t do anything for the heat, but makes for a picturesque sight.
English name:
Kitanomaru Garden
Japanese name:
北の丸公園
English address:
1-1 Kitanomarukoen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0091
Japanese address:
〒102-0091 東京都千代田区北の丸公園1-1
Opening hours:
24h
Admission:
free
Nearest Transport:
Subway: 2-minute walk from exit 2 of Kudanshita Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon and Tozai lines, and Toei Shinjuku line.
Nearest Hotels:
:: Check availability and pricing for hotels near Kitanomaru Garden on Booking.com or Agoda.com.
Telephone:
+81-3-3211-7878
Website:
Official Website (English)
Near To Here:
Kitanomaru Garden is located in Tokyo's Imperial Palace district. See our complete list of things to do in Tokyo's Imperial Palace district, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
Tokyo Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Tokyo guide
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- If you're visiting more than one city, save a ton of money with a Japan Rail Pass – here's why it's worth it
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