Outdoor picks
Hama-Rikyu Gardens - Park/garden: Tsukiji
[Open 9am-5pm (enter by 4:30) daily.]Sitting on the Tokyo Bay waterfront in the shadow of the skyscrapers of Shiodome, this massive garden was once part of a shogun's villa, with two ponds that were used for wild-duck hunting. It...
Meiji Jingu - Shrine: Harajuku
[Open sunrise to sunset daily.]One of Tokyo's major tourist destinations, Meiji Shrine is especially popular at New Year's, drawing more than three million visitors during the first three days of January. (The main New Year's Day...
Takaosan - Park/garden: Hachioji
Located less than an hour from Shinjuku station, Mount Takao is a popular hiking destination, drawing some 2.5 million visitors every year. There are several different trails to choose from, and the...
Tama Zoo - Zoo: Hino-shi
[Open 9:30am-5pm (enter by 4pm). Closed Wednesdays.]The goal of Tama Zoo is to display animals from various parts of the world in naturalistic habitats. Spread out over the vast 129-acre grounds an hour from central Tokyo are three distinct...
Gardens
Kiyosumi Gardens - Park/garden: Kiyosumi-Shirakawa
[Open 9am-5pm (enter by 4:30) daily.]The garden area here is laid out around a large pond inhabited by turtles, carp and ducks and other birds. Kiyoumi Gardens is best known for its collection of exotic landscape stones gathered from...
Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens - Park/garden: Iidabashi
[Open 9am-5pm (enter by 4:30) daily.]Construction on this vast, 70,000-square-meter landscape garden began in 1629 by members of the Mito Tokugawa family. The garden presents visitors with a series of walks over bridges and ponds and...
Shinjuku Gyoen - Park/garden: Shinjuku Gyoen-mae
[Open 9am-4:30pm (enter by 4pm). Closed Mondays.]The lovely gardens here include sections with three distinct styles - English landscape gardens, French formal gardens, and Japanese traditional gardens. There are several ponds, and a couple of...
Parks
Baji Koen - Park/garden: Setagaya-ku
[Open March-Oct 9am-5pm; Nov-Feb 9am-4pm. Open every day.]Run by the JRA (Japan Racing Association), this horse-centric park has both indoor and outdoor riding grounds, and over 100 resident horses. Equine-related shows and more informal events are held...
Hibiya Park - Park/garden: Uchisaiwaicho
A pleasant oasis of greenery in the middle of Tokyo's business and shopping districts, the park features two large flower gardens and two domed music/event stages that often host concerts and...
Himonya Koen Kodomo Dobutsu Hiroba - Park/garden: Meguro-ku
[Open 10-11:30am, 1:30-3pm. Closed Mondays.]The petting zoo here lets you play with rabbits, guinea pigs and dogs, and ponies are available for riding (at Y150 per ride). Note the limited hours of operation. Other attractions in the park...
Inokashira Park - Park/garden: Kichijoji
You live in Tokyo and so you know all you ever need to know about life in the fast lane. But to savor the city at its most engagingly indolent, you take the trip out to Inokashira Park. This spot...
Jingu Gaien Nikoniko Park - Park/garden: Shinanomachi
[Open 10am-5pm daily.]This popular children's park inside the Meiji Jingu Gaien grounds features rather elaborate slides, simulated waterfalls and log cabins.
Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park - Park/garden: Ota-ku
[Open 9am-5pm (Nov-Jan -4:30pm; last entry 30 minutes earlier). Closed Mondays.]Open to the public since 1989, the Wild Bird Park (Tokyoko Yacho Koen in Japanese) is a 24-hectare nature preserve built on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay. Within the park are several diverse habitats...
Yatsuhigata Nature Observation Center - Park/garden: Minami-Funabashi
[Open 9am-5pm (enter by 4:30pm). Closed Mondays.]Yatsu Higata, a 1000-acre mudflat connected to Tokyo Bay, is one of the better bird-watching spots in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The wetlands here are an excellent place to see migrating...
Yoyogi Park - Park/garden: Harajuku
[Open summer 5am-8pm; winter 5am-5pm daily.]This sprawling park next to Harajuku station (and adjacent to Meiji Jingu shrine) draws a big, diverse crowd on Sundays, but is much quieter during the week.
More outdoors
Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum - Museum: Koganei
[Open April-Sept 9:30am-5:30pm; Oct-March 9:30am-4:30pm (last entry 30 min earlier). Closed Mondays (or Tues if Mon is natl holiday).]This massive open-air museum features preserved and reconstructed examples of Tokyo's Edo-era architecture. Besides merchants' mansions and crowded shops, there's also a mausoleum and a bathhouse. ...
Ichigaya Fish Center - Sports facility: Ichigaya
[Open 9am-8pm daily.]Located right next to Ichigaya Station, this well-stocked fishing hole has special section for children. Tropical fish and aquariums are sold at the attached souvenir shop.
Tokyo Riding Club - Sports facility: Sangubashi
If you're bored with the ski machine and the stairmaster at your gym, why not limber up with a little horseback riding? Tokyo Riding Club has everything you need - horses, saddles, stirrups - and...
