The Spot
Birthplace of Japanese botanical research and among the oldest gardens in Japan (1684), the Koishikawa Botanical Gardens boasts over a thousand different species of plants, including medicinal ones, and even a herbarium with over 1.4 million specimens. As such, the Koishikawa Botanical Gardens, features a wide variety of sakura trees. Most of them are located in the upper part of the gardens, on very large lawns, making it a perfect spot for hanami. You can enjoy your picnic under the trees, letting children play around you. Relatively off the beaten track, it is rarely overcrowded and thus the perfect spot for a quiet hanami party – unlike Ueno and Shinjuku Gyoen.
Pro Photo Tip
These botanical gardens are a wonderful place to snap some pictures in a relatively quiet environment. A wonderful weeping sakura tree, superbly pink, can be shot with a 50mm or equivalent (remembering that walking on some of the lawns here is forbidden). You can also do some close-ups of the blossoms, since many trees have very low-hanging branches. Bring a macro lens, or a good telephoto. To snap the atmosphere, a wide-angle (24-35mm) will be perfect. Once again the general ambiance here is very relaxed and you can bring a bag with several lenses, change them, and leave your bag at your picnic spot without worrying about your hardware.
Access Info
Station : Todai-Mae (Namboku Line), Myogadani (Marunouchi Line)
Entrance Fees : A 330 Yen / C 110 Yen
Opening hours : 09:00 – 16:30
except every Mondays and and from Dec 29 to Jan 3.
Download your FREE copy via one of the following links :Tokyo No Sakura eBook
