A Zen Monk’s Guide to Tokyo’s Most Tranquil Gardens

Tokyo pulses with constant energy – packed trains, flashing neon, and a city that never slows. Yet, amid the chaos, the city’s famous gardens offer a haven of calm. Many date back to the Edo period (1603–1868), when Tokyo, then Edo, was the seat of the shogun.

Shunmyo Masuno, a Soto Zen monk and garden designer, guides us through these green sanctuaries. His creations blend Zen philosophy with contemporary design, encouraging visitors to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with stillness. “Japanese gardens cannot be understood without Zen,” says Masuno. “Approach with an open heart, set aside logic, and simply feel the rhythm of nature.”

Masuno’s favorite gardens include:

• Shinjuku Gyoen – home to 900 cherry trees, offering serene hanami experiences amid broad lawns and tranquil ponds.

• Rikugien – an autumnal kaleidoscope where 400 maples and azaleas set hillsides ablaze, and every path unfolds like a living poem.

• Hama-rikyu – a seaside garden breathing with the tide, preserving Edo-era charm against Tokyo’s modern skyline.

• Koishikawa Korakuen – Edo-period artistry with ponds, bridges, pines, and monumental stones, representing feudal power and aesthetic sophistication.

• Ninomaru, East Gardens of the Imperial Palace – a hidden oasis within the city, encircled by moats and walls, where calm and seasonal beauty reign supreme.

These gardens are more than landscapes; they are experiences that invite mindfulness, reflection, and harmony with nature, right in the heart of one of the world’s busiest metropolises.