Happo-en is a Japanese garden with an elegant atmosphere created by using the gentle topography of Shirokanedai and the trace of a stream in Minato-ku, Tokyo. In the garden, hundreds of years old trees stand up, and you can see the appearance of migratory birds.
Successive owners
At the beginning of the Edo period, Hakusaemon Okubo, who was a retainer of Ieyasu Tokugawa, owns Happo-en.
Okubo Hikozaemon was a kind of hero who had a lot of loyalty to Tokugawa Ieyasu who was a shogun, and yet he had opinions on the shogunate and shogun as a friend of the weak and poor. Okubo Hikozaemon’s anecdote is talked about in many books.
At the end of the Meiji era, it was owned by business man Kisaku Shibusawa, and in the Taisho era, it was owned by Kunosuke Kuhara, who laid the foundation for Hitachi and other facilities. The reason why Kunosuke Kuhara purchased Happoen was because of a pine tree in the garden. This pine tree is a majestic old pine tree that is over 400 years old, and when Fusanosuke Kuhara takes a photo, he reflects the pine tree on his back and loves it.
Kunosuke Kuhara wanted to create a large garden that takes advantage of the natural terrain because he liked this pine tree. The commitment to gardening can be seen from the fact that the most important consideration was harmony with nature. Pruning trees has been kept to the minimum necessary, giving priority to growing freely and cherishing love.
Happoen’s historical nature
You can enjoy a meal in the restaurant and a walk in the garden, and it is attracting attention as a spot where the Japanese culture, which is a mixture of food and nature, is fused. In 2018, it was ranked 3rd in the “Trip lovers choose! Free tourist spots 2018” of TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel platform.
The first thing I would like you to pay attention to is a strolling garden full of historical atmosphere. A migratory garden is one of the forms of Japanese gardens, and you can enjoy it according to a set route.
The Happo-en’s strolling garden
The Happo-en’s strolling garden is circulated around a pond, and trees, stones, water, and soil, which are the basic elements of landscaping, are arranged in their natural form. There is also a bonsai tree over 500 years old in the garden, so you can experience the beauty and taste of nature.
Seasonal Scenery
The scenery of the four seasons is also a real pleasure of Happo-en. Spring is a season when the contrast between the vitality of fresh green and the color of cherry blossoms is beautiful. In the summer, you can feel the coolness of the carp swimming in the pond elegantly and the sound of the water, and in the fall, you will be fascinated by the fiery autumn leaves reflected on the surface of the pond. After a passionate season, the deep snow and tranquility will make you feel refreshed.
Restaurant
In Happo-en, there is not only a Japanese garden but also a restaurant where you can enjoy the fresh ingredients grown in the rich earth of Japan. A meal with a view of nature is a joy and new discovery that can only be enjoyed in Japan.
Access to Happo-en
Address:1-1-1 SHIROKANEDAI, MINATO-KU, TOKYO
108-8631, JAPAN
TEL： 0570-064-128
Parking around Happo-en
Happo-en Official Website
Official site：https://www.happo-en.com/