Rikugi Garden

六義園

Rikugien in Bunkyo is a classic Edo-period stroll garden of hills and a broad pond, created in 1702 by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu, a confidant of shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, with scenes inspired by waka poetry. Its name refers to the six categories of Chinese poetry that also shaped Japanese waka classification. In the Meiji era the garden became a second residence of Mitsubishi founder Iwasaki Yataro; the Iwasaki family later donated it to Tokyo, and it is now protected as a special place of scenic beauty and historic site. Hours are generally nine to five with last entry at four-thirty, and there is an admission fee, so confirm current notices, free-admission days, and any night viewing events before you go.