Day 2: Sensoji temple, Asakusa in Tokyo - Nakamise Dori Shopping Arcade in Tokyo - Sumida River Cruise, Tokyo - HIBIYA GARDEN - Imperial Palace and Gardens - Tokyo Tower

A prolonged search for the Imperial Palace found us standing at the entrance of the Hibiya Garden instead and we gladly made our way in as the entry was free.

HIBIYA GARDEN

One of the most popular parks of Tokyo, Hibiya Garden was built, designed and constructed as a modern city park in the early 1900’s. Used as an army drill site at one time, it today serves its purpose of a place for some fun and recreation very well. In spite of standing in the midst of the high-tech area of Ginza, the garden is a huge respite from all the city chaos and does a fantastic job of keeping people close to nature and to life.

Take a quiet stroll,

Green pathway at Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
Pathways at Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
Serene Walk at Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
The many paths leading you in the interiors of the garden

... sit down on one of its benches,

Pathway - Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan

or stand still near a pond...

Serene lake and trees at Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
View from the Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
Two different ponds inside the park

... all the smells, the vibes and the atmosphere,

White Flowers in Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
Flower and architecture at Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
Pink flowers in Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
Flowers at Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
Pretty flowers - Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japnn
Different colors and varieties of flowers blooming in the garden
I'm sorry, I've have no clue on the names :-)

Beautiful Flower arrangement at the Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
Beautiful flowers at Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
Green Forested groove at Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
Thick forested groove at Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
Fountain at Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
Trees, plants and fountains arranged beautifully

... all the sights that you come across, everything is fascinating and soothing to your senses.

A Cat at rest at Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
A cat keeps guard

A child takes a break from tennis at Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
Tennis Court: A girl takes a break from her tennis lessons

Artistic flower arangement at Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
A teddy bear dolled up in nature

An artist's inspiration - Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
An artist takes some inspiration

Children enjoy themselves at Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan
Children Park: Kids and parents enjoying their day out

Complete with lovely fountains that breathe a whiff of fresh air, pleasant lakes that have stood the hammers of renovations, beautiful flowers that sing the melody of life, and lovely sights that give you a meaning for life... a stroll in this garden unraveled before me a different side to the personality of the Tokyo city that I had hitherto seen in my trip to Japan...

This was a place,

Rose at Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan

Where God-gift of nature was adored as much as (or may be even more?) pride was taken in all its arty concrete and innovative technology...

This was a place,

Two generations spotted in Hibiya Garden - Tokyo, Japan

Where two generations - the old and the new - strode along,
side by side, very happy in their own spaces without any pushing around...

This, was a place...  I realized, I was slowly getting to know...

Getting there: How to Reach and Other Fast Facts

Get Down at: Hibiya Station of Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line OR Kasumigaseki Station of Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line and Chiyoda Line. 2 minutes walk each.
Entry Fee: Free
Nearby Places to Visit: Imperial Palace and Gardens