Koishikawa Korakuen is one of my favorite Tokyo parks. Located near the Tokyo Dome, it’s one of 7 specially designated parks in Japan that are protected because of their historical significance. Korakuen’s construction began in 1629 by a high ranking lord. There are many Chinese influences all around the park, according to the official description. But back then, everything was heavily influenced by China.
The park is organized around a series of lakes and ponds. Around these are various orchards and gardens. I visited near the end of the iris bloom and even the dying flowers were a sight to behold. At the end of September, when I visited, there were few people. The most deserted and peaceful area was the most beautiful, a pond in the southeast corner of the park. There you can admire the reflections of the surrounding skyscrapers broken up by the ambling carp rippling beneath the lotus leaves. Click here to see more pictures from my flickr account.
The Quilting Sword 