Kitanomaru Park, Tokyo
Just a stone鈥檚 throw north of Tokyo鈥檚 Imperial Palace lies a peaceful and scenic patch of green鈥擪itanomaru Park. Back in the day, this was the inner sanctum of Edo Castle, a fortified and fiercely guarded zone with armored samurais, secret passages, and a few stern-looking nobles鈥攄efinitely not a picnic spot. Later, it became home to royal family members and local governors.
Although transformed into a public park in 1969, the samurai vibes still linger here. Two original castle gates鈥擲himizu and Tayasu鈥攔emain standing. The latter gate, dating back to 1685, is a true masterclass in Edo-era "keep out" design, with defensive layers and narrow courtyards set to slow down invaders. Walking through it feels like time-traveling鈥攎inus the awkward armor and no admission ticket required.
What鈥檚 more, this park isn鈥檛 just a museum with trees. It鈥檚 also home to the legendary Nippon Budokan, where martial arts meet rock concerts. Yes, that鈥檚 the same Budokan where the Beatles played. You鈥檒l also find the Science Museum鈥攑erfect if you like your nature with a side of interactive fun鈥攁nd the National Museum of Modern Art, where Japan鈥檚 creative genius is on full display. Once there, head to the top floor for one of Tokyo鈥檚 best views. Seriously, no one talks about it, but they should.
And if you鈥檙e not in a museum mood鈥擭o problem. Kitanomaru has trails for strolling, benches for loafing, and cherry blossoms that鈥檒l make your Instagram blush. It鈥檚 a calm, crowd-free oasis in a city that never takes a nap. In short, if you're hunting cherry blossoms, geeking out on science, or just looking for a breather after sightseeing, this green escape quietly delivers all these goods鈥攏o ninja training required.
Although transformed into a public park in 1969, the samurai vibes still linger here. Two original castle gates鈥擲himizu and Tayasu鈥攔emain standing. The latter gate, dating back to 1685, is a true masterclass in Edo-era "keep out" design, with defensive layers and narrow courtyards set to slow down invaders. Walking through it feels like time-traveling鈥攎inus the awkward armor and no admission ticket required.
What鈥檚 more, this park isn鈥檛 just a museum with trees. It鈥檚 also home to the legendary Nippon Budokan, where martial arts meet rock concerts. Yes, that鈥檚 the same Budokan where the Beatles played. You鈥檒l also find the Science Museum鈥攑erfect if you like your nature with a side of interactive fun鈥攁nd the National Museum of Modern Art, where Japan鈥檚 creative genius is on full display. Once there, head to the top floor for one of Tokyo鈥檚 best views. Seriously, no one talks about it, but they should.
And if you鈥檙e not in a museum mood鈥擭o problem. Kitanomaru has trails for strolling, benches for loafing, and cherry blossoms that鈥檒l make your Instagram blush. It鈥檚 a calm, crowd-free oasis in a city that never takes a nap. In short, if you're hunting cherry blossoms, geeking out on science, or just looking for a breather after sightseeing, this green escape quietly delivers all these goods鈥攏o ninja training required.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Tokyo. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Kitanomaru Park on Map
Sight Name: Kitanomaru Park
Sight Location: Tokyo, Japan (See walking tours in Tokyo)
Sight Type: Park/Outdoor
Sight Location: Tokyo, Japan (See walking tours in Tokyo)
Sight Type: Park/Outdoor
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