Although the Japanese capital has certainly less green area per inhabitant than northern European cities, Tokyo has plenty of parks, from historic to brand new ones; small, medium-sized, big; Japanese, English or French style... the choice is yours.

東京公園 TOKYO PARKS

Let’s begin with Shinjuku gyoen. 58,3 hec. In service since 1903 for the Imperial family, it was opened to the public in 1949.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1022_shinjuku_gyoen.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1022_shinjuku_gyoen_2.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1022_shinjuku_gyoen3.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1022_shinjuku_gyoen4.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1022_shinjuku_gyoen5.jpg

Shinjuku skyscrapers

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1022_shinjuku_gyoen6.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1022_shinjuku_gyoen7.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1022_shinjuku_gyoen_10.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1022_shinjuku_gyoen_11.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/1347.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1022_shinjuku_gyoen9.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/1339.jpg

Kasairinkai koen, 80 hec. One of the largest and newest parks in Tokyo, located in the very city limits. One of the landmarks of this park is a 117m tall Ferris Wheel, one of world’s tallest. Since it was cloudy I decided not to ride.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1023_kasai_rinkai.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1023_kasai_rinkai2.jpg

It has a beach :)

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/1343.jpg

Those buildings (hotels) you see belong to Tokyo Disneyland in Chiba prefecture, which is very close to the park.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1023_kasai_rinkai4.jpg

This lady is a real fan of photography.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1023_kasai_rinkai5.jpg

One of the features of Kasairinkai koen is bird-spotting; it feels like you’re in a marsh in the middle of nowhere instead of Tokyo :D

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1023_kasai_rinkai_6.jpg

Tokyo Sealife. I didn’t go in.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1023_kasai_tokyo_sealife.jpg

Back to central Tokyo; Next to Tokyo dome lies the magnificent Koishikawa-Korakuen, 7 hec. XVII century.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1102_koishikawa.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/1372.jpg

That one over there is the Tokyo Dome Hotel (2000. Kenzo Tange, 155m/509ft)

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1102_koishikawa3.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/1378.jpg

Bunkyo Center (1994. 146m/479ft)
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1102_koishikawa5.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1102_koishikawa7.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/1385.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1102_koishikawa8.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1102_koishikawa9.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1102_koishikawa10.jpg

Koishikawa Botanical Garden is maintained by Tokyo University.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1028_koishikawa.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1028_koishikawa2.jpg

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http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1028_koishikawa6.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1028_koishikawa7.jpg

Rikugien in Komagome is one of my favs. Another garden designed in the XVII century.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1028_komagome_rikugien.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1028_rikugien2.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/1366.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1028_rikugien5.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1028_rikugien7.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1028_rikugien8.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1028_rikugien9.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1028_rikugien10.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1028_rikugien11.jpg

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http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1028_rikugien15.jpg

Hibiya koen, 16,2 hec. It was the first western-style park in Tokyo, although these pics are focused on the Japanese garden within the Park :D (Large parks combine different styles)

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1023_hibiya_kouen.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1023_hibiya_kouen2.jpg

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http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1023_hibiya_kouen6.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1023_hibiya_kouen7.jpg

I like cats

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1023_hibiya_kouen8.jpg

These carp fish could gulp you down in a single mouthful, kitty! Be careful :D

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1023_hibiya_kouen9.jpg

“Hey kitty, get closer”

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1028_sakana.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1023_hibiya_kouen10.jpg

Next.
Rinshinomori koen (12 hec.) was close to the place I was living in early October, so I took a couple of pics.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/1309.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1012_rinshinomorikouen.jpg

Now, Gardens & Skyscrapers, what a mix huh. I have already shown most of these below:

Hamarikyu onshi teien, 25 hec & Shiodome skyline. XVII century.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1006_shiodome_caretta2.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1006_hamarikyu5.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1006_hamarikyu6.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/1387.jpg

Kyu-shibarikyu onshi teien. 4,3 hec. XVII century.

The 190m Acty Shiodome

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/1306.jpg

World Trade Center (158m/518ft), one of the very first high-rises in Tokyo (1970)

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1006_wtc.jpg

Odaiba

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/1303.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/132004_1015_odaiba_kara_shinagawa_neko.jpg

Finally, Meiji shrine is not a park properly speaking, but along with Yoyogi koen probably accounts for the largest green area in central Tokyo.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/1336.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/500/1325.jpg

There are many other remarkable parks in Tokyo like Ueno, Yoyogi, Toshimaen, etc etc. I will show those in a future thread :)

:bow:

Very nice pictures. You're posting these at quite an amazing pace!
I look forward to your next picture thread.

Arff arrff arff I will take a 2-week rest now.

nice places in a nice country!! :)

thanks for these gifts! :okay:

The Parks in Tokyo are world class.Something the government in Osaka should start taking into future Planning consideration.Osaka though,due to its longer history and unchecked growth,hasnt allowed any room for open spaces.

Osaka Jo park is the only open space in the center of the city.Before WW2,the park was the last remanents of the original city,dating back to 100 AD.