Last Updated: Oct 27, 2023

Koishikawa Korakuen

A Tranquil Garden in Central Tokyo

Fall is a most beautiful time of the year to visit Japan. As the seasons change, the heat and humidity of summer gives way to the cool ambiance of autumn. This transition paves the way for the changing color of the leaves which in turn, creates vibrant and dazzling masterpieces across the country. Japan has numerous locations to observe nature’s fall wonders but given tight schedules and jam-packed itineraries it can be hard to squeeze in a moment for the trees. Luckily, Tokyo has you covered. One of the country’s oldest gardens, Koishikawa Korakuen, is located right in the middle of the city. Koishikawa Korakuen is certainly charming no matter what time of year you visit yet the grounds are especially breathtaking during autumn. All-in-all, Koishikawa Korakuen remains a necessary and natural escape.

Koishikawa Korakuen was originally built in the very early Edo period (1600–1868) by Tokugawa Yorifusa, one of the founders of the Mito branch family of the famous Tokugawa family. Following the functional completion of the complex in 1629, the gardens were initially designated as the residence of the Mito’s. Due to the location’s ties with the main Tokugawa family, the gardens were always under the protective eye of the shogunate until the end of their reign in 1867.

In keeping with the traditions of all Japanese gardens, Koishikawa Korakuen seeks to recreate famous landscapes depicting the country’s wonderful scenery. The gardens take their namesake from the legendary Korakuen in Okayama Prefecture which is known to be one of the three most famous gardens in Japan. Like its namesake, Koishikawa Korakuen was inspired by a poem that encouraged rulers to only enjoy themselves after first achieving happiness for the common people.

Koishikawa Korakuen is designed in a Kaiyu-shiki promenade style and incorporates design motifs from the famous Nakasendo trade route that linked medieval Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka (pictured above). Unlike its coastal Tokaido counterpart (which the present-day Tokaido Shinkansen follows), the Nakasendo…