Even if Tokyo Dome’s first nickname, Big Egg due to its shape, has sort of gotten out of use, the place itself is still the center for events such as Japan’s most important sport Baseball, and live concerts by big national and international artists. There’s an amusement park (Tokyo Dome City) right next to it and just this spring four new attractions have been added under the slogan that fun and amusement is necessary for the hard-working Tokyoites.

But some forget that right next to the Dome is a beautiful, silent green oasis, the Koishikawa Kourakuen Gardens. The plan was laid out by a relative of the Tokugawa Clan and finished in the 17th century. It’s the oldest still existing daimyo garden, even if sadly only one fourth of the original size was left after Japan’s modernization. The founder’s interest in Chinese culture not only shows in the garden’s elements, like the lakes and the “Full Moon Bridge”, it’s also reflected in the name “Kourakuen” (enjoying later on), coming after a Chinese text, where it roughly says that those in power should first worry before all other people and enjoy afterwards. It’s rare to find such a quiet, secluded place in the middle of this metropolis, and only sometimes this silence gets broken by a live rehearsal from bands in Tokyo Dome.

Koishikawa Kourakuen Gardens offer an entry pass for the whole year, which really pays out if you live close. And you should really take any chance to come here because this is a beautiful green oasis to let your soul dangle, forget about all worries and just become one with this enchanting place from the past.

Access to Koishikawa Kourakuen:
Iidabashi Station on the Toei Subway Oedo Line, ca. 3 minute walk
Kourakuen Station (with direct access to Tokyo Dome) on the Marunouchi Line, about 10 minutes walk to the Garden
Iidabashi Station on the JR Sobu Line, Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, Yurakucho Line, Nanboku Line – about 8 minutes walk

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