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Hama-rikyu Gardens (Hamarikyu-Teien) – These gardens were used by the shoguns and nobles, where they hunted ducks with nets, and came here to relax and drink tea. |
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Near the entrance is the 300 year old pine tree, planted during the reign of the 6th Tokugawa shogun, and there are other old pine trees throughout the garden, so old and twisted they're propped up on sticks. At various seasons, flowers bloom in profusion, such as the peony garden. A place to kick back with kids, the gardens have plenty of shaded picnic areas, benches, restrooms, and teahouses where you can drink green tea and nibble on snacks. Hama-rikyu is smack in the middle of downtown Tokyo, but the gardens are peaceful and filled with the sounds of birds. |
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Tip: The waterbus heading from Asakusa to Hinode Pier, stops at Hamarikyu Gardens. It's fun to pick up the waterbus, and ride over to Hinode Pier, or continue up the river to Asakusa. |
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Water bus (Hinode Pier) – At Hinode Pier, catch the fun, inexpensive water bus to Asakusa or over to Odaiba Seaside Park. |
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It's a 40 min. cruise up the Sumida River to Asakusa, passing under thirteen different bridges, all painted in bright colors. |
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To Odaiba, it's just a short 20 minute hop, and the boat goes under the Rainbow Bridge. (You can also take the waterbus from Odaiba straight to Asakusa.) |
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Here's the schedule. |
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Rainbow Bridge – Take a walk across
this gleaming elegant suspension bridge that soars across Tokyo Bay. The bridge is a spectacular way to see
the city, and on clear day you can see for miles in all directions. |
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Tip: To walk the bridge, the easiest approach is to
take the Yurikamome elevated train to Odaiba-Kaihinkoen and walk to the
bridge entrance. (Pick up the Yuikamome at Shimbashi station.) |
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Odaiba – Odaiba, a man-made island at the eastern
end of the Rainbow Bridge has a variety of fun things for kids. To get there,
take a water bus from Hinode Pier, or ride the Yurikamome train
and get off at the Daiba stop. |
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 Odaiba
Seaside Park – This park has a real beach where kids can play in
the water or build their own shogun sand castles. |
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Daisan
Daba – Visit the ruins of the Shogun's fortress. The fortress and
man-made land was originally built in 1853 to defend against Commodore Perry. |
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Museum
of Maritime Science – The museum encompasses the history of ships,
not just in Asia, but all around the world. Inside you can steer radio controlled
boats in the water, and outside there is a Japanese seaplane and real boats
to climb on. In the summer, have fun in the museum's water park. |
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Shiokaze
Park – This park next to maritime museum has grassy areas to sit
and watch the boats go by in the harbor. |
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Palette
Town – Ride the Giant Sky Wheel, a huge ferris wheel, or stop into Mega Web from Toyota for the latest in cars, cars, cars. Tons of shopping and
restaurants. |
