Tokyo is a vibrant and enjoyable metropolis to discover, however typically the crowds and quick tempo can get overwhelming. When you want a break, why not head up—actually? Tokyo’s rooftop gardens provide a peaceable, inexperienced escape with recent air, scenic views, and a brand new perspective on the town. In current years, an increasing number of of those elevated city oases have popped up, remodeling once-unused areas into lush retreats. Best of all, most are free to entry!
The rise of rooftop gardens in Tokyo displays a rising pattern towards sustainability and concrete greening. As land costs stay excessive and obtainable area is proscribed, builders have turned their focus upward, creating multi-functional rooftop areas that profit each the atmosphere and the town’s residents. These gardens assist enhance air high quality, present insulation for buildings, and provide a pure retreat from the hustle and bustle under.
We began discovering these rooftop open-air areas a couple of years in the past as we wandered the town streets and procuring centres. On current visits, we made some extent to examine the highest flooring of some extra industrial buildings and procuring centres and located many extra sky gardens that we expect are effectively value sharing.
8 of one of the best rooftop gardens in Tokyo which can be effectively value a go to
1. Ginza 6
The Ginza 6 constructing is an icon in central Tokyo and is finest recognized for its high-end vogue shops. We adore it for its fabulous basement meals corridor, which must be on each foodie’s itinerary, and likewise for this rooftop backyard, which offers a quiet, leafy inexperienced area good for enjoyable within the open air.
The fabulous area affords views in all instructions and loads of quiet nooks for contemplation or dialog throughout the multi-layered planter beds. The immaculate wall gardens stretching a number of ranges excessive are one other beautiful design characteristic of the Ginza 6 sky backyard.
At 4000 sqm, it’s an enormous area, and the inclusion of lush foliage and water components makes it really feel particularly enjoyable. It could be loved for gratis (assuming you may make it from road degree to rooftop with out stopping to buy) from 7 a.m. till 11 p.m. The sky backyard area can be wheelchair-friendly.
Why go to?
- Expansive inexperienced area with tranquil ambiance
- Beautifully designed multi-layered backyard partitions
- Open from 7 AM to 11 PM
Address: 6-chōme-10-1 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061
2. Tokyu Plaza Omotosando Harajuku
Take the mirrored escalators up from the road into Tokyu Plaza then make your strategy to the sixth flooring. You can entry the roof backyard from Starbucks or there’s a revolving door barely additional round from the lobby space.
There appears to be a notion that this rooftop area is just for Starbucks clients, however solely among the seating is theirs. The relaxation is a public space for the entire Plaza, so that you aren’t obligated to purchase a drink to make use of it. We, nevertheless, discover it actually handy and a great way to take a seat out within the night with an after-dinner cuppa in Harajuku.
I just like the terraced sides of this space, which give loads of additional seating and likewise block loads of the town from sight, making it a really enjoyable area. You can stroll to the sting and look out on the town under, nevertheless it’s much less of a viewing deck than among the different Tokyo roof gardens.
There is greenery throughout, and final time we have been there, they even had some backyard beds put in the place annual fruit and greens have been being grown down the facet, tended by members of the general public.
The Tokyu Plaza is simply a 5-minute stroll from Harajuku Station, so it’s straightforward to entry or head dwelling afterwards. It can be proper in the midst of the procuring and consuming precinct. It is open from 11 a.m. till 9 p.m.
Why go to?
- Central location in Harajuku’s procuring district
- Relaxing terraced seating with numerous greenery
- An important spot to get pleasure from a espresso or tea within the open air
Address: 4-chōme-30-3 Jingūmae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001
3. Mitsukoshi Ginza Terrace
Mitsukoshi Ginza is one other favorite basement meals market. The selection and high quality are fabulous. After stocking up with a couple of treats, take the elevator as much as the ninth flooring to succeed in the open-air terrace on the roof. As you exit the elevator, there are cafes indoors the place you’ll be able to decide up different meals choices and sizzling drinks earlier than heading exterior.
The grass, timber, and plantings give a parklike really feel, and there’s seating on the picket terrace positioned to help you look out on the enjoyable view. This one is manicured however has a extra relaxed feeling to us than Ginza 6, which is simply throughout the highway.
Something we have now observed looking from numerous resorts throughout the town over time are small shrines on roofs of tall buildings, even those who aren’t publicly or simply accessible. There is a small shrine right here on the Mitsukoshi rooftop terrace, and a proof is given for why you see this pretty usually. Apparently, increased floor is best for a Shinto Shrine, which is why you usually discover them on mountains, so the plain resolution if a shrine must be moved for improvement is to fastidiously raise and place it in the identical location at a better elevation atop the event.
Why go to?
- Perfect place to calm down after looking the well-known Ginza meals corridor
- A small shrine provides a contact of custom and historical past
- Open-air seating with metropolis views
Address: 4-chōme-6-16 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-8212
4. Tokyu Plaza Ginza Kiriko Terrace
Tokyu Plaza additionally has a rooftop backyard on its Ginza complicated. This one is spacious and splendid for assembly up with pals or catching up on some work, because it has each energy shops and WIFI obtainable to friends. Public entry is free, and there’s a espresso cart to seize a drink to calm down and unwind whereas catching up on a couple of emails or people-watching the streets of Ginza under.
We came across this one in Ginza whereas in search of an area to calm down and relaxation our toes between the day exploring Odaiba and becoming a member of a night Ginza Food Tour with Arigato Japan. It was good, we had a drink, charged the battery pack and had a couple of minutes to reset away from the crowds
Why go to?
- A calming area with nice metropolis views
- Free public entry with WiFi and charging stations
- Located within the coronary heart of Ginza
Address: 5-chōme-2-1 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061
5. Ikebukuro Seibu Roof Garden
This one is positioned on high of the Seibu practice station within the centre of Ikebukuro, take the elevator up from the Seibu division retailer. It is without doubt one of the largest open-air rooftop areas within the metropolis and a well-liked assembly area for household and pals.
It is open seven days per week from 10 a.m. till 10 p.m., and entry is free. The roof backyard affords a dwelling inexperienced area full with a lily pond, an excellent quantity of seating, public restrooms, and quite a lot of kiosk providers providing drinks and snacks.
It’s a great place to go to for a respite from the hustle and bustle, both in the course of the day or within the night. It is usually a good plan for the night to take the practice again to the Seibu station after a day on the Harry Potter studio expertise and head up right here for a couple of minutes of respite and a drink earlier than taking up the outlets and eating places of Ikebukuro.
Incidentally, if you happen to aren’t accustomed to the station, platforms 2 & 3 have been restyled as ‘Platform 9 3/4’s at Kings Cross Station based mostly on the Harry Potter books and flicks. You’ll use these platforms to and from Toshimaen Station (aka Hogsmead Station).
Why go to?
- Large open-air backyard with lush greenery
- Free entry and open every day from 10 AM to 10 PM
- Perfect for a quiet break from the busy Ikebukuro streets
Address: 1 Chome-28-1 Minamiikebukuro, Toshima City, Tokyo 171-8569
6. Marunouchi HOUSE Terrace
Located on the seventh flooring of the Shin-Marounouchi constructing this one is adjoining to Tokyo station with all its subway traces and the Yamanote loop line so entry actually couldn’t be any simpler. What makes this sky terrace particular is that it seems to be out on a 270° view of the enterprise district together with the dramatic frontage of Tokyo station which is illuminated every night from sundown till 9 p.m.
I had needed to go to the Travelers Factory store in Tokyo Station for a stationery splurge, so this was a great place upstairs to kind by way of my haul and re-caffeinate.
There is an efficient quantity of seating on the terrace, together with across the edges, wanting down on Station Square for one of the best view. This terrace is extra concerning the view than the backyard, however it’s planted as much as improve the enjoyable really feel of the area and is the right spot to convey a drink or snack. HOUSE doesn’t enable meals and drinks to be introduced in from exterior the constructing, however there are many decisions right here on the cafes and eating places within the inside portion.
There are additionally eating places on the fifth and sixth flooring that present a view of Tokyo Station if you’re in search of a full meal.
Why go to?
- Stunning views of Tokyo Station and the Marunouchi space
- Plenty of seating, together with spots proper alongside the sting
- Great for grabbing a drink and unwinding after a day of sightseeing
Address: 1-chome-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005
7. Shibuya Parko
This one is a 5 minute stroll from Shibuya Station, and positioned in an space we regularly head into for dinner after we keep in Tokyo. We love that this inexperienced area is open from 11am till 11pm and has meals truck type cafe choices on website.
We like Parko as someplace we are able to seize a sizzling drink after dinner and sip as we unpack the day or plan the following whereas looking on the metropolis lights. It’s additionally a really useful sundown spot if you happen to want to take a couple of minutes quiet between the times actions and dinner.
Why go to?
- A peaceable retreat within the coronary heart of Shibuya
- Open late for night rest
- Casual meals truck-style café on-site
Address: 15-1 Udagawachō, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-8377
8. Shinjuku Southern Terraces
This one is above Shinjuku station and the Expressway bus terminal, close to the southern exit. We counsel staying at this finish of Shinjuku for couple and households, it’s handy to eating places, outlets and all transport choices. The leisure area is open 24 hours and whereas it’s extra terrace than backyard it does have some inexperienced outlook and a novel perspective on the practice traces working out and in of the busy station.
Why go to?
- It’s open 24/7, making it good for late-night visits
- Unique view of trains working out and in of Shinjuku Station
- Conveniently positioned close to resorts and eating places
Address: 2 Chome-2-1 Yoyogi, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-8583
Tokyo’s rooftop gardens are among the metropolis’s best-kept secrets and techniques. They provide a peaceable break from the quick tempo of city life whereas offering beautiful views and distinctive experiences. Whether you’re in search of a quiet place to calm down, a scenic lunch spot, or a chief location to recharge your batteries earlier than heading again out in to the crowds, these elevated escapes are effectively value exploring.
So subsequent time you’re in Tokyo, bear in mind to lookup—you simply may discover your new favourite hideaway above the town streets!
