The Rikugien Gardens - One Of The Best Gardens In Tokyo
- Dec 2, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 26
A complete guide to the Rikugien Gardens in Tokyo
Image copyright: Ollie Ronin
Table of Contents
Overview
The Rikugien Gardens are widely considered to have some of the best autumn foliage in Tokyo. The entire area is stunning, featuring a network of paths that lead you around a large central lake, numerous teahouses, small creeks, bridges, and a small hill that overlooks the garden.
Rikugien is especially popular during the Nov-Dec peak autumn period, as it's one of the best places to see autumn leaves in Tokyo. This popularity means it can become somewhat crowded on weekends, so you might have to wait in line at the ticket gate for 10-20 minutes. However, if you arrive when the garden opens at 9am, then the queue will be small, and if possible, aim to visit on weekdays.
For two weeks during spring and autumn, the garden holds nighttime illuminations. These events are very popular, and tickets are limited, so it's recommended to buy your tickets online via the official website. Online tickets are not available during normal daytime hours.
Rikugien is worth a visit in every season. If you visit outside of the autumn and spring peak periods, you'll find the garden provides a nice escape from the big city. It's also never busy during these times, offering a peaceful retreat into nature.
The numerous teahouses are another standout feature, offering matcha and traditional wagashi sweets with views of the gardens. You'll also find a couple of small food stalls selling amazing coal-roasted mochi.
Location & Access
Image copyright: Ollie Ronin
The Rikugien Gardens are located in the central Tokyo area and are easily accessible from popular locations such as Asakusa, Akihabara, Roppongi, Ginza, Shinjuku, and Shibuya. The illuminations are held for two weeks around early April and the end of November.
🕗 Opening Hours
Normal Hours: 9am - 5pm
Illuminations: 6pm - 8:30pm (last entry 7:30pm)
📍 Location
Bunkyo, Tokyo (Google Maps)
💴 Entry Price
Daytime: ¥300
Illuminations: ¥1000
Illumination Tickets: Book online
Seasons
Image copyright: Ollie Ronin
🌸 Cherry Blossoms
Late March to early April
🍁 Autumn Leaves
Mid-November to early December
☀️ Summer
June - August.
Average temp. 32°C
Lush and green scenery
❄️ Winter
December - February
Snowfall: Rare, once every few years
Interesting Facts & History
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Construction began in 1695 by the order of Tsunayoshi Tokugawa, the 5th shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate. The construction took seven years to complete and was finished in 1702.
It’s designed around the six elements used in ancient Japanese waka poetry, the name, Rikugien, means garden of the six principles.
The design recreates 88 scenes from waka poetry.
The garden's features - stones, bridges, islands, and shorelines - were designed to imitate natural landscapes from across Japan.
After falling into disrepair following the Meiji Restoration, the garden was purchased in 1878 by Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of Mitsubishi, who restored it to its former glory and used it as his secondary residence. His son, and the third president of Mitsubishi, donated it to the City of Tokyo in 1938.
The viewpoint on the Fujishiro-toge hill was originally designed to showcase Mt. Fuji on the horizon.
Useful Links
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Illumination Tickets
Nearby Attractions
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
The Rikugien Gardens are located only 6 minutes by train to another stunning Edo-period garden, the Koishikawa Korakuen, which is also a must-see. The Tokyo Dome is right next to Koishikawa, which is a large entertainment complex that features a baseball stadium, amusement park, and shopping mall. It's also within a 20-minute train ride from Senso-ji Temple, Akihabara, and Tokyo Tower.
