Hamamatsucho Station 浜松町駅
Multiple perspectives
A thriving business district, countless taverns that come alive after dark, overlooking the Sumida river, centuries-old gardens alongside skyscrapers, and the emblematic Tokyo Tower: Hamamatsucho station serves as a gateway to Tokyo from the bay.
The gateway to Tokyo
Located in Minato Ward, Hamamatsucho Station was inaugurated in 1909. It is served by the JR Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines. On September 17, 1964, on the occasion of the Summer Olympics, the Tokyo Monorail station was added. The monorail connects the capital to Haneda Airport in just 15 min.
A little surprise is reserved for passengers on tracks 3 and 4 (respectively that of the Yamanote line towards Shinagawa and that of the Keihin-Tohoku Line towards Shinagawa): there is a replica of the Manneken-Pis.
Near JR Hamamatsucho Station is Daimon Subway Station, which serves the Asakusa and Oedo lines.
Green oases amid skyscrapers
Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, but with the skyscrapers as a backdrop, the gardens of the Hamamatsuchô district offer a break of calm and greenery.
- The garden of Kyu Shiba Rikyu
Located just a 3-minute walk from Hamamatsuchō station, this former imperial garden of more than 4 hectares is often considered the most beautiful Japanese-style garden in Tokyo. It was also classified as a "site of exceptional beauty" by the government in 1979.
The edges of the Kyu Shiba Rikyu garden pond
Helene Marbach
Famous image of Zojo-ji and Tokyo Tower
Wikipedia
- The garden of Hama-Rikyu
This promenade garden ( kaiyu-shiki ) dating from the 17th century was the family garden of the Tokugawa shoguns. It is also included in the list of "sites of exceptional beauty" in Japan.
Covering an area of 25 hectares, it is bordered on three sides by a moat filled with seawater.
It has retained its three original ponds, including the Shioiri pond, where an island houses a tea house open to the public.
Hama-Rikyu and its pond lined with flowers
Flick/Liwei
A “Special Historic Site,” Hama-Rikyu Onshi Teien Garden is the former Tokugawa hunting reserve.
DR
- Shiba Park
Shiba Park is one of the oldest parks in Japan. Originally it housed the site of Zojo-ji Temple but after 1945, due to the separation of state and religion, the temple and gardens were separated.
- Zojo-ji Temple
Built in 1393 and then moved to its current location in 1598, Zojo-ji Temple was a very important Buddhist site.
Destroyed several times by fires and then by American bombardments during the Second World War, the current buildings date from 1974. Only the main gate, Sangedatsu-mon, erected in 1622, is from the period.
The temple is famous for the Tokugawa mausoleum where 6 shoguns and their close families rest.
Famous image of Zojo-ji and Tokyo Tower
Wikipedia
Views from above
- World Trade Center Building
Close to Hamamatsucho station, the World Trade Center Building offers a 360-degree panorama of Tokyo from its observatory located 152 meters high. From there, you can see Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree, Odaiba, or nearby Tokyo Bay.
- Tokyo Tower
The famous Tokyo Tower, dressed in vermilion red and white, dominates the Hamamatsuchô district. It has two observatories, 145 and 250 meters high, from where you can admire the capital.
With its dazzling red and its Eiffel Tower look, the Tokyo Tower is one of the symbols of the Japanese capital
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On the culinary side
As the district is home to many office buildings, it is also full of bars, izakaya, Japanese bars, and bistros that welcome employees after work. The beer flows freely there and you can eat at very reasonable prices.
Behind Zojo-ji temple, Tokyo Shiba Tofuya Ukai is a very famous tofu restaurant. It is reached after crossing a magnificent garden. The restaurant is located in the building of an old sake factory.
A little further, the district of Daimon (towards the metro station of the same name) is famous for its restaurants of tonkatsu, and breaded pork chops. The very famous Tonkatsu Aoki restaurant is taken by storm as soon as it opens at 11 am.
Step away
Hamamatsucho Station is very close to Tokyo Bay and the piers.
From Hinode Pier, one can take a sightseeing boat to Asakusa or Odaiba or take a cruise in Tokyo Bay. Check out Tokyo Cruise's "Asakusa-Hinode Pier" cruise.
From the Takeshiba Passenger Ship Terminal, one can embark on Tokyo's 11 islands, located off the Izu Peninsula or even further afield.
Discover the Yamanote, Tokyo's iconic subway line:
- Tokyo station
- Nippori Station
- Uguisudani station
- Ueno Station
- Okachimachi Station
- Akihabara Station
- Kanda Station
- Yurakuchō Station
- Shimbashi Station
- Hamamatsucho Station
- Tamachi Station
- Ebisu Station
- Shibuya Station
- Harajuku Station
- Yoyogi Station
- Shinjuku Station
- Shin-Okubo Station
- Takadanobaba station
- Ikebukuro Station
- Otsuka Station
- Komagome Station
- Tabata station
