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Japanese aesthetics come into view. Let's tour Happoen and get to know Japanese gardens!

Translated from Japanese by
Japanese gardens are one of the most beautiful places in Japan. Happo-en Garden in Minato-ku is a great place to enjoy the charm of Japanese gardens. In this article, we will visit Happo-en and guide you through the garden and its highlights. Let us show you how to enjoy the Japanese garden.

Start by setting up the guide map and earphone guide at the entrance of the main building!

Happo-en Garden, located in Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, has a Japanese garden, wedding hall, restaurant, and banquet hall. Its name comes from the fact that it is ""beautiful from all directions,"" and the garden boasts scenic views. The garden is open to the public and anyone can stroll through it with no admission fee. The walking route is as follows

1. pass through the main gate and head toward the main building.

Enter Happoen through the main gate and follow the directions to the main building.

2. Get a garden walking guide and earphone guide at the entrance of the main building.

Get a "Garden Walking Guide" map and earphone guide at the desk to your left as you enter the main building. The garden walking guide is on the shelf, and the earphone guide can be downloaded to your own phone from the QR code. The earphone guide is available by clicking on the number of the spot you are at on the map and listening to the audio.

The earphone guide can be downloaded in advance from this URL.
https://izi.travel/en/browse/ee0251b5-39d1-426c-b71e-20b59d3ef39b?passcode=happoen34

Start strolling around the garden. Let's walk around the pond!
As you exit the main building into the garden, you will see a pond. In a garden like Happo-en, you can walk around the entire garden by walking around the pond. There is no particular route, but we recommend that you stroll along the course we will introduce next.

Happoen Walking Tour and Highlights

●Kido Gate - Rokkakutei - 13-story pagoda

Kidomon

Rokkakutei

Thirteen-story tower

After exiting the main building, follow the road to the right and you will find the Kido Gate, where you can start your stroll. Near the Kido gate is a pavilion called Rokkakutei. At the pavilion, go inside, sit down, and relax. Furthermore, around diagonally across from the Rokkakutei is the 13-story pagoda, a valuable cultural asset that was built more than 200 years ago and relocated from its original location in Iga.
●Bonsai Road

Bonsai Road

530-year-old bonsai

Bonsai Road, where bonsai trees line the walkway overlooking the pond, is popular among foreigners. The well-maintained bonsai, one by one, are a sight to behold. Some of the bonsai are over 500 years old.
●Kakutei

Kakutei

View of the pond with Kakutei as a picture frame

View of the pond from Kakutei

There is a pavilion called Kakutei (corner pavilion) by the pond after passing Bonsai Road. It is recommended to enjoy the view of the pond by using the space between the buildings as a picture frame.
●Sui-Tei

Suitei

Nishikigoi from Mizutei

Mizutei is located in the middle of the pond. The view from the pavilion is a paradise for Nishikigoi from the former Yamakoshi Village in Niigata Prefecture. If you are lucky, you can see a line of beautiful Nishikigoi. This is a popular area where many people lose track of time.
●Tea room "Yumean"

Chamuro Yumean

Yumean is a relocated teahouse built by Heihachi Tanaka, a raw silk trader from Yokohama in the Meiji era. Reservations are not required for the tea house experience (1,100 yen per person including tax) from 11:00 to 15:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays only.
●Waterfall

waterfall

Carp gathering

There is a waterfall in front of the garden chapel. It is recommended to relax and watch the water cascading down and take pictures. Usually, food is sprinkled in this area, so there are many carp around, and you can enjoy the gorgeous water scenery.
●Courtyard

courtyard

The courtyard is a great photo spot

The courtyard is a good place to take a break as there is a veranda. Looking down on the pond from here, you can see the carp well, which is the best position to take pictures of the garden.

Take a break at a café or restaurant when you are done strolling.

When you have finished your stroll, you can have a meal or tea at the café or restaurant in the main building. The large windows offer a view of the garden.
●RESTAURANT ENJYU

Restaurant Enju's table seats overlook the garden.

Private

Happoen is home to Restaurant Enju, an innovative fusion restaurant. It offers table seating and private rooms with a view of the Japanese garden. It is also open for lunch on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
●Slash Cafe

Table seats at Slash Cafe

Terrace seating at Slash Cafe

The Slush Cafe is the place to enjoy meals made with vegetables delivered from the farm. The terrace seating overlooks a vast garden. In addition to lunch, the cafe also offers an extensive afternoon tea menu.

How to enjoy Happoen in each season

Happoen Garden with cherry blossom scenery in spring

Happo-en offers seasonal views that are unique to the time of year. In spring, the garden is decorated with plum blossoms and cherry blossoms, in summer with hydrangeas and whooping cherries, in autumn with bright red autumn leaves, and in winter with snow. Every year, during the cherry blossom season in spring and the autumn foliage season in fall, the garden holds light-up events with cocktails and other refreshments, allowing visitors to enjoy the garden not only during the daytime, but also at night.

Happoen Garden during the autumn foliage season

Check out the Japanese garden in Minato-ku.

In addition to Happoen, there are other Japanese gardens in Minato-ku that can be easily visited.

Kyu-Shibarikyu Gardens
Kaigan 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo
https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/park/format/index029.html
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (admission until 16:30)
Closed: Year-end and New Year's holidays (December 29 through January 1 of the following year)
Admission: ¥150 for adults, ¥70 for seniors 65 and over
Free for elementary school students and younger, and junior high school students residing or attending school in Tokyo
Free guided tours of the garden are available from 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays (45 minutes to 1 hour).

Mori Garden
6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
https://www.roppongihills.com/green/
Opening hours: 7:00 - 23:00
Closed: Open year-round
Admission: Free

International House of Japan Garden
5-11-16 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
https://ihj.global
Admission: Free *Only available for guests and members

At Happoen, maps and earphone guides were provided, and visitors were free to explore at their leisure. After a leisurely tour, it would be fun to take a break at a restaurant or café. During special times of the year, the garden is also a must-see at night with light-up events. Why not plan a holiday to enjoy Japanese gardens in Minato-ku?

Happoen
1-1-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo
https://www.happo-en.com

*Kidomon gate is open from 10:00-16:00 on weekdays.
*The garden may not be open on weekends and holidays depending on banquet conditions.

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