Kiyosumi-shirakawa Area

Let’s take a stroll along a samurai-era waterfront, at the Fukagawa-Edo Museum

This old-fashioned neighborhood is an undiscovered gem, with a serene (and uncrowded!) garden and the Fukagawa-Edo Museum – a life-sized samurai-era town you can walk around.

Let’s see what Edo-era life was like, as we stroll through this perfectly reconstructed town. The streets are lined with all kinds of shops…

…to the fisherman’s house where we must have interrupted him mending his nets.

As you can see, the detail is amazing, and as an added bonus, the lighting cycles from day to night!

The neighborhood between the museum and the garden is a quirky mix of old-fashioned and artistic, with tiny shops and noodle restaurants that haven’t changed for decades.

Then let’s meander over to the Kiyosumi Teien Garden, my favorite place for a restorative recharge in Tokyo.

This ancient garden isn’t famous for extravagant flower displays, but its classic Japanese design and lush greenery are always astoundingly beautiful.

Green & serene & uncrowded in every season

Lovely stone water basins make cool oases along the path

And see all the people? Neither do I. This garden is never crowded, even on weekends.

And if you happen to be here during cherry blossom season, pop into the temple across from the entrance to the garden, for *this*.

The fantastic Museum of Contemporary Art is just around the corner, but it’s closed right now for renovation. They’ll reopen on March 19, 2019!

KIYOSUMI-SHIRAKAWA AREA MAP

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Last Tea Bowl Thief was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense on Amazon

For three hundred years, a missing tea bowl passes from one fortune-seeker to the next, changing the lives of all who possess it…*read more*

“A fascinating mix of history and mystery.” —Booklist

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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had

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