Tokyo is one of Asia’s leading big cities. While there are skyscrapers and commercial facilities everywhere, some parts of towns still strive to preserve the beauty of nature and the four seasons. That’s right: Even in bustling Tokyo, there are wonderful gardens and hotels where we can enjoy seasonal nature and traditional Japanese culture. At each of these locations, it’s almost as if all the charms of Japan have been compressed into one area. In this article, we will introduce such attractive facilities to you.


Enjoy seasonal Japanese cuisine in a quaint garden with a circulating path.

It is said that the lush green “HAPPO-EN” in Shirokanedai, Minato-ku was named so because “the garden looks beautiful from any angle”, with “Happo” being a literal translation of “eight directions”. The surrounding nature and historical old buildings are in a good balance and harmony with each other. Also, there are restaurants and ceremonial halls within the seasonally stunning garden that entice travelers to “check in” and secure a nice photograph. For those who pay a small sum for HAPPO-EN’s facilities, you can stroll through the garden’s circulating path centering around a quaint pond.

Enjoy seasonal Japanese cuisine in a quaint garden with a circulating path.

It is said that the lush green “HAPPO-EN” in Shirokanedai, Minato-ku was named so because “the garden looks beautiful from any angle”, with “Happo” being a literal translation of “eight directions”. The surrounding nature and historical old buildings are in a good balance and harmony with each other. Also, there are restaurants and ceremonial halls within the seasonally stunning garden that entice travelers to “check in” and secure a nice photograph. For those who pay a small sum for HAPPO-EN’s facilities, you can stroll through the garden’s circulating path centering around a quaint pond.

Since the days of the Edo period, “Restaurant KOCHU-AN” laid nestled in the wide Japanese garden of HAPPO-EN. The historic Sukiya-zukuri style building offers overall great views of the garden, so guests can enjoy sceneries across all four seasons from every room.

Here, tucked away from the flurry of the city and blanketed in the air of carefully preserved traditions: you can spend a wonderful time dining in on traditional Japanese cuisine that reflects the taste of the seasons while enjoying the distinct sceneries that each has to offer.

“Muslim Welcoming Kaiseki Ryori” in KOCHU-AN uses Muslim-friendly seasoning and ingredients which include Wagyu beef, with the aim to allow visiting Muslims travelers to also enjoy authentic Japanese Cuisine. Backed by the wonderful scenery of the Japanese garden, you can treat yourself to Japanese cuisine on a tatami mat in a luxurious atmosphere.

HAPPO-EN

Address: 1-1-1, Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Access :1-min walk from Tokyo-Metro Shirokanedai station

A hotel where you can both enjoy the changing of the seasons and impressive Japanese culture

Other than restaurants, there are also accommodations where you can stay to enjoy the four seasons of Japan. “Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo”, which has a history of 70 years, is a hotel located in a rich natural environment, and is said to have seven seasonal sceneries. Cherry blossoms in spring, fresh green and fireflies in early summer and deep green later on, autumn leaves in fall, snowy landscapes in winter and camellias in early spring. Why stop at four? This hotel lets you enjoy seven landscapes,

The restaurant “Kinsui” is built by the bank of Unjin Pond of “Tokyo Unkai” (Tokyo Sea of Cloud), one of the largest foggy gardens in Japan. Here, you can enjoy the renowned and mystical scenery of ‘unkai’ (or ‘sea of clouds’) from all 11 private rooms, and another 2 rooms that lie a short a distance away.

In response to the customers’ request, the hotel offers “Muslim Friendly Kaiseki Ryori” for Muslims to enjoy the authentic Japanese multi-course meal experience with peace of mind. The chefs prepare the food professionally with taste and technique that has been handed down for more than half a century.

There are also activities that allow hotel guests to enjoy traditional cultural experiences such as “Tea Ceremony Experience Class”, “Japanese Lesson”, and “Kokedama Moss Ball Making”. This is a hotel where you can both relax and still enjoy the nature and culture of Japan to the fullest, at the pace you desire.

Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo

Address: 10-8, Sekiguchi 2-chome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Access: 10-min walk fromTokyo-Metro Edogawabashi station, Metropolitan-bus stops at in front of the hotel.

Spend a Luxurious Time in a Museum-like Hotel with Traditional Art

Last but not least, the next hotel that we would like to introduce is Hotel GAJO-EN Tokyo, also known as the “Museum Hotel of Japan Beauty”. Continuing a tradition of more than 90 years, the hotel is decorated with 2,500 Japan paintings, arts, and crafts. Guests are rarely left unimpressed or without awe of the hotel’s beauty.

All 60 rooms in the hotel resemble tea rooms, each with ample space of over 80 m² and equipped with a steam sauna and whirlpool bath, doing well to combine simplicity with the elegance of Japan. This hotel is also available for Muslim friendly services and support upon request.

The hotel also houses one of Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s designated tangible cultural property, the “Hyakudan-Kaidan”, the only wooden building left intact within the hotel as it was built back in the 10th Showa year (Year 1935). There are a total of seven rooms where splendid banquets can be held, and all of them are connected with a long 99 steps stairway corridor. The design and overall decorations luxuriously interweave the many traditional styles of Japanese culture. A good look around will truly give you a feel for the traditional aesthetics that makes Japan the unique country that it is. Do take note though, that this section is opened to public only when there is any special event.

HOTEL GAJOEN TOKYO

Address: 1-8-1, Shimomeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Access：3-min walk from　JR Meguro station
Free Shuttle bus from JR Meguro station (Weekday11:00-21:00 /Weekend 9:00-21:00 every 20 min)


We have reached the end of this article, but you should be familiar by now that there are many wonderful gardens and hotel options in modern Tokyo to both enjoy nature and traditional culture. And if you are specifically looking for Muslim-friendly options, why not enjoy the experience at any of the locations mentioned above?