The longest stretch of public holidays in Japan, the annual Golden Week happens at the end of April through early May. It's made up of four special days: Showa Day (April 29), Constitution Day (May 3), Greenery Day (May 4) and Children’s Day (May 5).
Greenery Day was originally gazetted as a celebration of Emperor Showa's (1901 to 1989) birthday. It was later renamed Greenery Day, and as its name suggests, this is a day to appreciate nature and relish in the great outdoors.
Better yet, on this day, many of Tokyo's top nature attractions, such as parks and gardens including a zoo and an aquarium, will be offering free entry. So slap on some sunscreen – we're going out to these lush green attractions in Tokyo on Saturday May 4 2024. It's one of the best days of the year to explore Tokyo for free.
Recommended: Looking to pack in more over the holidays? Here are the best events in Tokyo during Golden Week 2024.
Despite being right next to the amusement park of Tokyo Dome City, Koishikawa Korakuen feels so peaceful that you almost forget that you're in the centre of a metropolis. The garden was first laid out in 1629. It’s now only a quarter of its original size, but it’s still beautiful, with a range of walks, bridges, hills and vistas (often the miniatures of more famous originals) that encourage quiet contemplation.
Regular entry ¥300, free on May 4 (Greenery Day)
While Rikugien is located in the metropolitan area of Bunkyo, the garden concealed behind the walls feels miles away from the bustling city. Rikugien gets especially popular in spring as crowds flock to the glorious weeping cherry tree, which is lit up after dark. Autumn is just as scenic due to the abundance of blushing maple trees. Nevertheless, permanent highlights to be enjoyed year-round include the Fukiage Chaya tea house, where you can sip on a cup of matcha while taking in the beautiful scenery.
Regular entry ¥300, free on May 4 (Greenery Day)
Newer than Shinagawa Aquarium and located on the other side of Tokyo Bay, this place was built on the 77ha (190 acres) of reclaimed land that constitute Kasai Seaside Park. The main attraction is a large doughnut-shaped water tank, home to 200 tuna. Tokyo Disney Resort is nearby.
Regular entry ¥700, free on May 4 (Greenery Day)
Japan’s oldest zoo, established in 1882, is also Tokyo’s most popular, thanks mainly to its central location in Ueno Park and its range of beasts, including a giant panda and a Sumatran tiger. You’ll find the panda in the eastern section, along with elephants, lions, gorillas, sea lions and assorted bears.
Don’t be discouraged by the crowds, though; the western section across the bridge is less busy and offers opportunities to interact with animals in a petting zoo and to watch a huge alligator relaxing in the reptile house.
Regular entry ¥600, free on May 4 (Greenery Day)
The animals at this zoo in Hino City (an hour by train from central Tokyo) are displayed in a more natural setting than at Ueno Zoo. Built over several low hills, Tama Zoo is divided into three ecological areas: Asiatic, African and Australian. The main attractions include koalas, lions in a ‘safari’ setting and, above all, a huge insectarium with butterflies, beetles and other creepy-crawlies. Enjoy the sensation of butterflies coming to rest their weary wings on your hand.
Regular entry ¥600, free on May 4 (Greenery Day) and May 5 (Tama Zoo's anniversary)
Hama-rikyu stands out from other gardens in Tokyo in that it isn’t known for its weeping cherry blossom or maple foliage, but its bright pink plum trees that blossom in late winter. This tranquil garden, once a hunting ground for the Tokugawa shogunate, now cowers in the shadow of the Shiodome development.
The garden’s main appeal lies in the abundance of water in and around it and the fact that it feels deceptively spacious, thanks to beautiful landscaping. Located on reclaimed land, it is surrounded by an ancient walled moat with two entrances, over the Otemon and Naka-no-gomon bridges (it’s also possible to reach Hama-rikyu by boat from Asakusa).
The focal points are the huge tidal pond, which contains two islands (one with a teahouse) connected to the shore by charming wooden bridges, and a photogenic 300-year-old pine tree.
Regular entry ¥300, free on May 4 (Greenery Day)
Built in 1896 for Iwasaki Hisaya, son of the founder of the Mitsubishi conglomerate, this compound reveals the fin-de-siecle sheen beneath Ueno’s grimy surface. Josiah Conder designed the recently renovated main residence – a two-storey wooden structure with Jacobean and Pennsylvanian country-house elements (and the first Western-style toilet in Japan) – and the adjacent billiards room in the form of a log cabin. In the large tatami rooms, visitors can sip green tea and admire fusuma (sliding doors) painted with seasonal motifs by Hashimoto Gaho.
Regular entry ¥400, free on May 4 (Greenery Day)
Spring is the best time to walk through a bamboo grove and the forest at Tonogayato Garden is so lush that it’s a designated cultural asset of Tokyo. This garden in Kokubunji has a storied noble history: it was established between 1913 and 1915 on the grounds of a villa built for the vice president of the Manchurian railway, Eguchi Teijo, and was later purchased by the founder of Mitsubishi, Iwasaki Yataro, in 1929, who added a tea house to the premises. Tonogayato’s beauty lies in the diversity of its landscape, which features a waterfall leading to a natural spring.
Regular entry ¥150, free on May 4 (Greenery Day)
Located in Tokyo’s Kita ward, the grounds, formerly belonging to the Furukawa plutocrats, went on loan to the national government to be opened to the public. Situated on a sloping landscape, a Western-style house and garden can be found on the upper grounds while a Japanese-style garden is located on the lower grounds.
The house on the upper grounds was designed by British architect Josiah Conder (1852-1920), who also designed the Rokumeikan and the Holy Resurrection Cathedral, among other celebrated buildings. The Japanese gardens were designed by Kyoto landscape artist Jihei Ogawa (who worked under the professional name Niwashi Ueji), a gardener for Kyoto’s Heian Jingu Shrine and Maruyama Park.
Regular entry ¥150, free on May 4 (Greenery Day)
Venture into the great outdoors without leaving Tokyo, from a bamboo forest and nature parks to lush river valleys and more
Japanese landscape gardens don't just showcase seasonal beauty; they also seek to recreate an idealised version of nature
Explore versions of Himeji Castle, Kyoto’s famous torii gate tunnel, a Japanese old town and more in and around Tokyo
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