Fire Fighters Museum

This museum is in a real fire department.
It has an observatory on the 10th floor and you can bring your lunch.

Exhibitions are on the 6th floor through B1 floor except the 2nd floor.
2nd floor is the office of the fire department.

Exhibitions include history of fire fighting from Edo era through current time.
There're dioramas, costumes, fire engines, helicopter, devices, movies and so on.

In city of Edo has 48 teams of fire fighters.
Symbols of each team which was held on the top of the roof during fire fighting are exhibited all together.

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<The Nearest Station>

Yotsuya Sanchome station on Marunouchi Line (M11/Tokyo Metro)

<Admission>

Free of Charge

9:30-17:00      

Closed on Mondays

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Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple

Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple is one block away from Tsukiji Fish Market.
This temple was opened in early 17th century as a branch of Kyoto Hongwanji, the center of Jodo Shinshu Sect.

But it suffered several fires and lost main buildings several times.

After it burned down at Kanto Great Earthquake in 1923, current building was completed in 1934.

Main building is Indian style. It doesn't look like Japanese temple.
I've never seen this kind of temple in Japan.

But interior is typical Jodo Shinshu Sect style.

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<The Nearest Station>

Tsukiji station on Hibiya Line (H10/Tokyo Metro)
Shintomicho station on Yurakucho Line (Y20/Tokyo Metro)
Tsukiji Shijo station on Oedo Line (E18/Toei Subway)
Higashi Ginza station on Asakusa Line (A11/Toei Subway)

<Admission>

Free of Charge
6:00-17:30  Apr through Sep
6:00-17:00  Oct. through Mar

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Tokyo Metropolitan Edo Tokyo Museum

This huge museum is located right next to Rogoku Kokugikan (Sumo Arena).
Exhibitions are focused on Tokyo from Edo era （1603-） to current Tokyo.

Edo era           1603-1868
Meiji era          1868-1912
Taisho era       1912-1926
Showa era       1926-1989
Heisei era        1989-

Edo era was governed by Tokugawa Shogun.
Since country was closed to the outside world during Eda era, very unique culture is developed.

It's interesting to see the changes from unique isolated Edo era to modern country.
After Meiji restoration, new government open the country to the world.
In Meiji era we have two wars against China and Russia.

We had World War II from 1941 to 1945.
U.S.A. General Headquarter governed Japan from 1945 through 1952.

There're a lot of replicas and hands on stuff.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Ryogoku station on Sobu Line
Ryogoku station on Oedo Line (E12/Toei Subway)

<Admission>

600 yen (Regular exhibitions)

9:30-17:30 (9:30-19:30 on Saturdays)      

Closed on Mondays

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This museum has free English speaking guides.
You don't have to hire me.

Chinzanso Gardens

Chinzanso is a wedding ceremony place with Japanese garden.
This place has Four Seasons Hotel right next to the garden.

There's a artificial waterfall just behind the glass wall of wedding chapel.
You can go to the back side of the waterfall. It's actually a hall way of the wedding place.

Surrounded by green leaves, three stories pagoda is on a hill.
This garden is open to public and you will see new couples in wedding dresses or gorgeous kimono taking wedding photos.

A garden view from the cafeteria through a large window is amazing.

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<The Nearest Station>

Edogawabashi station on Yurakucho Line (Y12/Tokyo Subway)
Waseda station on Arakawa Line (Toei Street Car)

<Admission>

Free of Charge

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If you go down the hill in the garden, you will reach to the gate facing to the path along Kanda river which takes you to Edogawa Park.

Tonogayado Gardens

Tonogayado Garden is one of 9 Tokyo Metropolitan Gardens, but only this garden is far from the central Tokyo. It's located in front of JR Kokubunji station, which is a suburb of Tokyo.

This garden was built in early 20th century as a second house of the owner of Manshu railroad and transferred to Iwasaki financial group.

Gardens consist of western style lawn garden, natural forests on the slope and Japanese garden with a pond. Water is coming from a fountain.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Kokubunji station on Chuo Line

<Admission>

150 yen

9:00-17:00

Closed on Dec. 29th - Jan. 1st

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This garden maintains the original nature in this area.

Basho-an

Basho-an was the place where the very famous Haiku poet, Basho Matsuo had lived in 17th century. Haiku is very short poem with three lines and rhythm of 5-7-5 syllables

This garden is open to public and located on the foot of Munatsuki Hill, which means your chest will be close to the hill since it's so steep.

This garden is relatively small but remains natural forest and a pond and you may not feel like you are in the middle of Tokyo.

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<The Nearest Station>

Edogawabashi station on Yurakucho Line (Y12/Tokyo Metro)
Waseda station on Arakawa Line (Toei Street Car)

<Admission>

Free of Charge

10:00-16:30

Closed on Mondays

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Main gate is closed all the time, but you can go through side gate.

Shin Edogawa Park

Shin Edogawa Park used to be feudal load Hosokawa family's mansion.
This garden is very hilly and there's a pond at the bottom.
You may feel like you are in a deep mountain.

There's a gate connecting to Eisei Bunko Museum at the highest point of the garden.
It's a kind of secret route to go to the museum.
Eisei Bunko Museum exhibits treasures of Hosokawa family.

Paths are well maintained even though they are on the steep slope.
It's amazing to keep this garden neat and clean with no admission fee.
This garden is owned and maintained by City of Bunkyo.

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<The Nearest Station>

Edogawabashi station on Yurakucho Line (Y12/Tokyo Metro)
Waseda station on Arakawa Line (Toei Street Car)

<Admission>

Free of Charge

9：00-17：00  (Feb. - Oct.)
9：00-16：30  (Nov. - Jan.)

Closed on Dec. 28th - Jan. 4th

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Edgawa Park is another park on a river side of Kanda river near here.
It's a long park with a path along Kanda river.
Shin Edogawa Park means "New" Edogawa park.

But this place is more like a traditional Japanese garden rather than a park.
So I'd like to propose to change it to "Edogawa Garden".

Hama Rikyu Gardens

Hama Rikyu Gardens used to be falconry fields of Shogun.
Then it became a second house of Shogun family.

Large pine tree upfront is about 300 years old.

There are flowers fields, forests, and some ponds.
Largest pond takes sea water from the canal.

There's a water bus stop where ships take you to Asakusa.

There are some unique mounds to hide yourself for duck hunting.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Shimbashi station on Yamanote Line.
Shiodome station / Tsukiji Shijo station on Oedo Line (E19/E18/Toei Subway)

<Admission>

300 yen

9:00-17:00

Closed on Dec. 29th - Jan. 1st

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This is one of 9 Tokyo Metropolitan Gardens.

You may find brides who are taking wedding pictures in beautiful kimono.

In new years holidays, you can enjoy demonstration of falconry.