Tokyo’s Autumn garden escapes

Every year, Tokyoites make the exodus out of town to classic autumn leaf watching spots like Mount Takao, Kamakura, Nikko, Hakone or even further afield to Gunma or Saitama prefectures. However, for those with little time to spare even a weekend day trip to catch the koyo (autumn foliage colours) can seem a bit too much to handle. A working weekend, time pressures or simply the lack of motivation to get up early to head out of town can leave you feeling like some time communing with nature and enjoying the season’s myriad colours might pass you by.

In reality, there are plenty of gardens, parks, temple, and shrines poised to dazzle with autumn leaves that are close enough to check out on a lunch break or even after work. The 2009 foliage forecast calls for the Tokyo area to be set ablaze mid-to-late November, which means that the show is about to start.

Of course Yoyogi and Ueno Parks are a sure-fire way to get an eyeful of autumn trees and Meiji Shrine is always worth a look, but if you’re not in the mood for large, sprawling city parks or potential crowds then there are some more peaceful alternatives. Take a break this fall by making your way to some of our top picks for enjoying the autumn spirit in the city.

Finally, sometimes the best spots are right in your own neighbourhood, and with a bit of exploring you might just find a secluded temple, local shrine or even cemetery that has its own autumn show for you.

Rikugien (more)

Rikugien is one of Tokyo’s most noted traditional Japanese landscape gardens, created between 1695 and 1702 by Edo-period daimyo Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu. Taking inspiration from the six elements of traditional waka poetry, this garden incorporates a variety trees for mixed foliage colours, a pond and a hill from which to enjoy the view. It’s especially close to the station and also features walking paths and has several teahouses on the grounds if you feel like a cup of green tea. As the park stays open slightly past dusk, the trees are lit providing a great photo opportunity or stroll to start off a date.

The Imperial Palace East Garden

From the outer grounds the Imperial Palace might simply look like some grand but austere Edo-style white stone structures, but head towards the East Garden in the inner circle (ninomaru) of the grounds open to the public and you’ll find a jewel of a traditional garden. This garden features a mixture of different foliage that departs from the ubiquitous red of the Japanese maple. Also on the grounds of the garden is a pond scattered with carved stone lanterns.

Koishikawa Korakuen (more)

Koishikawa Korakuen is Tokyo’s oldest Edo-era public garden, created in 1629. Unlike Rikugien, instead of being based on images from poetry, it’s based on small-scale reproductions of famous landscapes. The traditional red maples are the autumn attraction here, set off by a pond and Chinese influenced landscaping. Though the location next door to the Tokyo Dome and Korakuen amusement park may spoil the atmosphere for some, Koshikawa Korakuen manages to remain relatively peaceful and devoid of the crowds that one might expect for the location.

Shinjuku Gyoen

This iconic park is one of the closest things to New York’s Central Park in Tokyo. Though decidedly smaller, it’s a great way to get a breath of autumn in the middle of your workday. Where most parks only have walking paths and trees, Shinjuku Gyoen also features manicured grass lawns great for a picnic in the sun. Get yourself a good spot and you’ll not only be able to see the wide variety of larger trees, like plane trees and Himalayan cypress, but also nearby DoCoMo tower looming above you.

Inokashira Park (more)

Situated to the south of Kichijoji station and an easy 18 minute ride from Shibuya, Inokashira Park is a favourite among those living in the western part of Tokyo. It’s not nearly as crowded for the koyo as it is for the cherry blossoms, and on any given day you can find a relaxing mix of joggers, couples, families and people with pets. The park features a large pond with a fountain and pedal boats, bridges, a shrine, several teahouses and snack spots and a zoo (with garden-variety animals) for the kids. Here, red pines and cypress trees are interspersed between maples and other traditional autumn trees, giving off a balanced palette of colour. If you’re peckish, grab some yakitori from the popular Ise-ya restaurant on the way; just look for the long line near the park entrance.