When it comes to green spaces, Tokyo can seem a little sparse to say the least — particularly evident when measured up against other large cities.
Take for example New York City, which provides over 12,000 hectares of green space for its land area of 789 km2 — compared to Tokyo’s 10,800 hectares for 2,188 km2.
While we can expect the city to grow a little greener thanks to the upcoming 2020 Olympics, don’t expect Tokyo to blossom overnight into a verdant paradise.
That’s why it’s important for anyone moving to or within Tokyo to consider which neighbourhoods offers a healthy balance between nature and cityscape. Greenery may not make your list of must-haves when moving the way proximity to amenities or apartment size might, but it should. Countless studies have proven the positive effect of such spaces for a person’s mental and physical health, and who doesn't want that.
With your well-being in mind, here are five areas in Tokyo that offer an outdoor oasis from the city.
1. Kōtō – Kiba Park and riverside walks
Kōtō ward has two great elements that give it high scores on the green credentials: the Sendai-bori River and the expansive Kiba Park.
If you stick to within walking distance of the park, you'll be rewarded with ample fields featuring tennis courts, BBQ spots, botanical gardens and even the city's Museum of Contemporary Art. The park is divided by the small river and has a suspension bridge to connect the north and south, which add up to an impressive 24 hectares in size. Once a logging area, it was converted into a tree-filled park in 1969 and is free to enter.
While we know a park isn't all that special on its own, there are numerous mini-parks nearby including Fukutomigawa and Toyosumi parks, and you will be in walking distance of Kiyosumi Garden and close to the waterfront. The riverways surrounding the area also have plenty of verdant river banks to enjoy.
The best stations to focus on for this area are Kiyosumi-Shirakawa on the Oedo and Hanzomon subway lines or Toyocho and Kiba stations on the Tozai Line.
2. Tama – The Tama River and Ikuta Ryokuchi Park
Running along the Tama River, the Tama area is filled with lush spaces to enjoy, mainly along the river bank, but with a variety of parks too.
Ikuta Ryokuchi Park in Kanagawa Prefecture (bordering Tokyo Prefecture) is by far the biggest, home to Mount Masugata, the Japan Open-Air Folk Museum, the Taro Okamoto Museum of Art and a rose garden. The park is famed for its variety of birds, and can easily transport you to a natural idyll as you're surrounded by green views and birdsong.
The park is closest to Mukogaoka-yuen Station on the Odakyu Line, but is a great draw for the nearby stations of Noborito and Ikuta too.
Alternatively, you could opt for the Nanbu Line and enjoy the green spaces the run along the river's edge, including small parks like Inada and Inada Tamagawa. These banks are popular for cherry blossom as well as viewing points for the huge annual fireworks festival in the summer, as well as being close to the local theme park Yomiuriland.
3. Itabashi – The Arakawa River and local allotments
Another riverside spot, the ward of Itabashi is topped by a section of the Arakawa River and the greenery that comes with it, as well as being home to sections of the Sumida and Shakuji rivers. The latter two are great for strolling along and provide good cherry blossom spots, while the former has big open grassy areas like the Arakawa Todabashi Green Space.
Parks-wise you're spoiled for choice, with the popular Johoku Chuo Park and Shingashi Sanchome Park. There's the Itabashi Tropical Environment Plant Museum and two botanical gardens for rainy days. Plus there's the nearby Akabane Nature Observation Park.
Even the residential areas are greener than most here, with allotments common and plenty of older residents to be seen tending the grounds for seasonal fruit and veg, or beautiful flowers.
For the most central greenery-desnse locations, Kami-Itabashi and Tokiwadai stations are close to Johoku Chuo Park on the Tobu-Tojo Line while Takashimadaira and Nishidai stations on the Mita subway line are between the Arakawa River and the Akatsuka Park.
4. Setagaya – Todoroki Valley and Kinuta Park
If you prefer to be closer to Shibuya, Setagaya ward is a great combination of urban and oasis, with incredible spots like Todoroki Valley hidden in plain sight as well as its own official bird, the azure-winged magpie.
Kinuta Park is a vast expanse of fields, playgrounds, sporting areas and even a bird sanctuary, covering 96 acres in total. As well as being great for bird spotting, you can explore the Setagaya Art Museum on the grounds and enjoy a picnic with nothing to see but grass and trees for miles around. It's also a good spot for those famous blossoms come spring and makes for a slightly quieter alternative for hanami parties. The mature forests mean you can forget you were ever in the city, much like in Todoroki.
Todoroki is the city's only valley. Forged by the Yazawa River as it makes its way to the Tama River, the valley is a haven of greenery with enough trees, shrines and temples to whisk you away from the urban metropolis of Tokyo.
A small part of the ward also runs along the Tama River, with the Tamagawafutagobashi Park being a delight as well as a mouthful.
The best stations to live by are Yoga Station on the Tokyu-Den-entoshi Line for access to the birds of Kinuta Park and Todoroki Station on the Tokyu-Oimachi Line for the valley-escape. Possibly your best option is Futako-Tamagawa Station, which combines both lines, and is close to the Tama River too!
5. Kichijoji – Inokashira Park
Combining a trendy shopping district with one of the city's best parks, Kichijoji is usually found on the tops spots in Tokyo to settle down. Kichijoji Station is located right next to the park, which is home to a boating lake, Benzaiten shrine, a small zoo, cafes and street performers, and is a very popular spot for hanami come spring.
As the source of the Kanda River, the park is always green, and has an aquatic plant garden by the central pond. Nearby you'll find plenty of small local parks to enjoy and quieter streets to stroll through, with small city farms and a botanical garden too.
Living next to the main park can be pricey — it's one of the city's most desirable spots — but you can reduce your lodging costs by living a station or two away from Kichijoji Station. A good option is looking near Mitakadai on the Keio-Inokashira Line which is still within walking distance (only 10 minutes along the Kanda River).
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