About Hamarikyu Gardens
In 1654, Tokugawa Tsunashige, son of shogun Iemitsu, received permission to fill in a piece of Edo Bay and build a villa there. The following shoguns used the place as a secondary residence, including for falconry. Today, the skyscrapers around it form the backdrop to the pine trees, and the combination makes for the most curious photo of the day.
The Shioiri-no-ike pond takes in water from Tokyo Bay and changes level with the tide. At its center, a teahouse connected by two bridges serves matcha and Japanese sweets in the style of the tea ceremony: sit down, sip slowly and look at the water. The garden, about 25 hectares, has been open to the public since 1946.
