Is Koishikawa Korakuen worth visiting?

Yes, for travelers interested in Edo-period history or gardens, especially those already at Tokyo Dome City next door. It's one of only three surviving Edo-period daimyo gardens in Tokyo, genuinely quiet despite the busy complex beside it.

How long do you need at Koishikawa Korakuen?

About 1 to 1.5 hours for a comfortable walk around Daisen Pond and the main bridges, smaller than Rikugien or Shinjuku Gyoen.

Which station is best for Koishikawa Korakuen?

Iidabashi Station (Toei Oedo Line, exit C3) is closest at 3 minutes to the West Gate. JR Suidobashi Station's west exit is 5 minutes to the East Gate and works well when pairing the visit with Tokyo Dome City.

What are Koishikawa Korakuen's opening hours?

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily, with admission sold until 4:30 PM. Closed December 29 through January 1.

How much does Koishikawa Korakuen admission cost?

¥300 for general admission, ¥150 for seniors 65 and older, and no charge for elementary-school-age children and younger or for Tokyo-resident middle school students. Admission is also free on Greenery Day (May 4) and Tokyo Citizens' Day (October 1).

Is Koishikawa Korakuen the same as Korakuen Amusement Park?

No. Koishikawa Korakuen is a separate, quiet Edo-period garden next door to Tokyo Dome City, which is home to the amusement rides. They share part of a name but are entirely different attractions with separate admission.

Is Koishikawa Korakuen good for cherry blossoms?

Yes. Weeping cherry trees bloom near the west entrance in spring, alongside plum blossoms earlier in the year (mid-February through March) and Japanese maple foliage in autumn, making the garden interesting across multiple seasons rather than one.

Can you take photos at Koishikawa Korakuen?

Yes, casual visitor photography is unrestricted. Private or commercial photo and video shoots require advance approval through an official submission form.

What is the difference between Koishikawa Korakuen and Rikugien?

Both are Edo-period daimyo strolling gardens in Bunkyo, but Koishikawa Korakuen is next to Tokyo Dome City and blends Japanese and Chinese design influences, while Rikugien is built around classical Japanese waka poetry and sits near Komagome. Garden enthusiasts with time for both will find each has a genuinely distinct character.

Are there guided tours at Koishikawa Korakuen?

Yes, free guided tours run in Japanese on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and public holidays at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM, and in English on Saturdays at 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM.

Koishikawa Korakuen Garden

By Andrew Liyan · Last updated: August 25, 2026 · Facts verified: August 25, 2026

Quick Answer

Hours

9:00 AM-5:00 PM daily (last entry 4:30 PM)

Admission

¥300 general; ¥150 senior; free for children and Tokyo-resident middle schoolers

Nearest Station

Iidabashi Station, West Gate (3 minutes walk)

Best Time

Any season; weekday mornings for fewer crowds

Visit Duration

1-1.5 hours

Koishikawa Korakuen Garden's Daisen Pond and Edo-period landscape beside Tokyo Dome City in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan

Area: Korakuen / Bunkyo
Best For: History, Photography, Nature
Nearby: Tokyo Dome City · Rikugien Gardens

Plan Your Tokyo Visit

Visiting Koishikawa Korakuen Garden

Koishikawa Korakuen Garden is one of only three surviving Edo-period daimyo (feudal lord) strolling gardens in Tokyo, alongside Rikugien and Hamarikyu. Construction began in 1629 under Tokugawa Yorifusa, first lord of the Mito Tokugawa family, and his son Tokugawa Mitsukuni completed and expanded it around 1669 with guidance from the exiled Chinese Confucian scholar Zhu Shunshui, who named it 'Korakuen' after a Chinese phrase meaning to enjoy life only after the world's troubles are resolved.

The garden sits directly beside Tokyo Dome City, Tokyo's amusement park and shopping complex, but the two are entirely separate: Koishikawa Korakuen is a quiet, historic Edo-period garden, not part of the adjacent amusement park.

At its center is Daisen Pond, designed to represent the sea, surrounded by miniature recreations of famous Japanese and Chinese landscapes. Stone bridges including the Engetsu Bridge (Full Moon Bridge) and the Tsutenkyo Bridge cross the water and connecting paths.

The garden rewards a visit in any season: plum blossoms from mid-February through March, cherry blossoms including weeping cherries near the west entrance in spring, irises and lotus in summer, and Japanese maple foliage from late November into early December.

Opened to the public in 1938 and designated a National Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty, Koishikawa Korakuen remains genuinely quiet despite sitting next to one of Tokyo's busiest entertainment complexes, making it an easy, low-cost addition to a Tokyo Dome City visit or a stop in its own right for anyone interested in Edo-period garden design.

Things to Do at Koishikawa Korakuen Garden

Walk the Daisen Pond Loop
Daisen Pond, designed to represent the sea, is the garden's central feature, ringed by miniature recreations of famous Japanese and Chinese landscapes and connected by walking paths.
Cross the Historic Bridges
The Engetsu Bridge (Full Moon Bridge) and the stone Tsutenkyo Bridge are two of the garden's most photographed structures, both original Edo-period design elements.
Visit in Any Season
Plum blossoms bloom mid-February through March, cherry blossoms (including weeping cherries near the west entrance) in spring, irises and lotus in summer, and Japanese maple foliage late November into early December, making this a genuinely year-round garden rather than a single-season attraction.

How to Get to Koishikawa Korakuen Garden

Koishikawa Korakuen has two gates, each closest to a different station, so the best approach depends on whether Tokyo Dome City is part of the same visit.

West Gate (recommended for most visitors)
The West Gate is a 3 minute walk from Toei Oedo Line Iidabashi Station, exit C3, the closest and most direct approach for most visitors.
East Gate
The East Gate is a 5 minute walk from JR Suidobashi Station's west exit, a good choice when arriving from central Tokyo via JR lines or when pairing the visit with Tokyo Dome City, which sits between the two gates.
Important Visitor Tips Before Arriving
Koishikawa Korakuen is a separate, quieter historic garden next door to Tokyo Dome City and Korakuen Amusement Park, not part of either.
The garden closes December 29 through January 1 each year, plus one additional annual inspection closure on an unfixed date.
Commercial or private photo and video shoots require advance approval through an official submission form; casual visitor photography has no stated restriction.

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Map

Open Koishikawa Korakuen Garden in Google Maps

Best Time to Visit Koishikawa Korakuen Garden

Weekday mornings for a quiet visit; any season for seasonal plantings.

Entry Fee & Hours

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Admission

¥300 general; ¥150 senior (65+); no charge for elementary-school-age children and younger, and for Tokyo-resident/school middle schoolers

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Hours

9:00 AM-5:00 PM daily, admission sold until 4:30 PM (closed Dec 29-Jan 1)

💡Good to Know

•Koishikawa Korakuen is a separate garden from the adjacent Tokyo Dome City amusement park; the two have separate admission.
•Wheelchair routes, accessible restrooms, and wheelchair loans are available per the official site.
•No pets are permitted inside the garden.