Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens

After seeing Brandon, Darren took us on a tour of one of the older gardens in Tokyo, another Tokugawa location, a garden built near their residence in Edo (Tokyo). The gardens were beautiful and would have been quite peaceful - except for a K-Pop band playing at the Tokyo dome next door. I could definitely imagine hanging out here through out the year, just enjoying the experience. According to Darren, there aren’t zoning restrictions here like we think of in the states, so you end up with something like the GA Dome built next to the Gardens of Versailles (well a much much much smaller version of the Gardens of Versailles!).

Regardless, it was a nice break in the day from some of the crowds and people we had been maneuvering through at the various temples, shrines and shopping areas. We wandered the gardens and enjoyed the sun.

Of course, all joy must come to an end, and apparently the gardens were not very happy with my presence as it channeled it’s inner Tokugawa samurai and much like Homer Simpson, severed the few hairs that are left standing on the back of my scalp! I keep forgetting things here aren’t made for a 6’2” person, but a 5’2” person! Walking out, the stone cap over the archway took a shot at the top of my head while I wasn’t paying attention. I’ll be tending to that bruised raspberry for a couple of days!Read more