Hamarikyu Gardens (浜離宮恩賜庭園）



Hamarikyu Garden was formerly the summer villa of the Tokugawa family and is located at the mouth of the Sumida River. Since the Meiji Restoration, it has passed to the Imperial Family, and then to the City of Tokyo in 1946 when it became open to the public. The culture of the high-class Edo Period is maintained in this area of Tokyo bay surrounded by an ever-modernizing city.
Tea House at Hamarikyu Gardens
Since the garden is actually an island surrounded by water on all sides, the only way in is by bridge or water bus. The only other garden from this era left in Tokyo is the Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Gardens, located to the south. A plum orchid, cosmos and canola flower garden, and a peony garden can be found in the northern part of the garden. The northwest entrance is also where the garden's three hundred year old pine tree stands.
Visitors can enjoy refreshments at a teashop in Nakashima located in the middle of the pond in the garden. This shop offers matcha and Japanese sweets in a tea-ceremony style. At New Year, Japanese falconry and aikido (Japanese martial arts) are demonstrated.
Japanese falconry at Hamarikyu Gardens


For Social Studies Teacher the Hamarikyu Gardens relate to the Grade 8 Social Studies Curriculum in the following way:
" 8.1.4 appreciate how a society’s worldview shapes individual citizenship and identity
 
8.1.5 analyze the effects of cultural isolation during the Edo period by exploring and reflecting
upon the following questions and issues:
• How did the changes resulting from isolation affect Japan economically, politically and
socially during the Edo period? 
• How did the shogun use the feudal system and the hierarchical social classes to maintain
control of Japan? 
8.1.6 analyze the effects that rapid adaptation had on traditionally isolated Japan during the
Meiji period by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
• What challenges emerged for the Japanese in maintaining traditional cultural aspects of their
society while undergoing rapid change? " (From the Grade 8 Social Studies Program of Studies)
Websites: http://www.japanvisitor.com/index.php?cID=421&pID=1528, http://www.microap1.com/bird/taka/sue/index.html, http://www.flickr.com/photos/antoniovi/3746425519/
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Comment on what you could learn related to what you have studied about Edo and Meiji Japan.