“Stop! Hamarikyu Time!”

The Hamarikyu Gardens were once the family garden of the Tokugawa Shogun, but were later donated to the City of Tokyo by the Imperial Family in 1945. They are now designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and Special Historical Site of Japan. I wander the lush gardens for a while finally free from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo; however, my tranquillity is somewhat spoiled by the tall office blocks that scrape the sky in every direction. Still, a great place for an afternoon stroll, relax with a cup of tea, or enjoy the perfectly trimmed grass that looks to have been cut on a daily basis, and probably has been and will be forever.