Tokyo › Tokyo photo guides › Photo shoots in Tokyo’s Japanese gardens
Published November 15, 2026
For calm, clean photos with a Japanese feel, Tokyo’s Japanese gardens are a great choice. Here are the two metropolitan gardens we recommend: Kiyosumi Gardens and Koishikawa Korakuen. Both charge admission and both have rules for portrait shoots, so please read this before booking.
Kiyosumi Gardens
Kiyosumi Gardens is a stroll garden built around a large pond with islands, stepping stones along the shore (iso-watari) and a pavilion over the water, plus famous stones gathered from across Japan. The backdrop is clean and calm, ideal for full-length portraits and kimono photos. It’s about 3 minutes on foot from Kiyosumi-shirakawa Station (Toei Oedo Line, Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line).
Koishikawa Korakuen
Koishikawa Korakuen is a daimyo garden from the early Edo period, centered on Daisensui Pond, with views such as the Engetsukyo and Tsutenkyo bridges. Weeping cherries bloom in spring, plum blossoms from around February to early March, and the autumn leaves around Tsutenkyo are famous.
Do portrait shoots need an application?
In Tokyo metropolitan parks and gardens, family snapshots and scenery photos need no application. Shoots that occupy an area, commercial or not (model shoots, for example), need an advance application. Koishikawa Korakuen’s official site says model and pre-wedding shoots need an advance application and review, and may be declined in busy seasons and during events. The photographer checks this when you book and suggests another place if needed. Source: Tokyo Metropolitan Government: photography in parks (Japanese).
Garden etiquette
- Stay off lawns and closed areas
- Take care on stepping stones and bridges, and don’t block paths for long
- Large equipment is subject to the garden’s rules
- Keep quiet and don’t block other visitors
Best seasons
- Spring: weeping cherries at Koishikawa Korakuen
- Early summer: fresh greenery and clear water
- Autumn: leaves at Koishikawa Korakuen (usually late November to early December)
- Late winter: plum blossoms at Koishikawa Korakuen (around February to early March)
Location details: Kiyosumi Gardens and Koishikawa Korakuen.
Shared with our clients' permission. The photos are retouched.
Tokyo sessions: Solo portrait, Kimono session, Packages
FAQ
Do Kiyosumi Gardens and Koishikawa Korakuen charge admission?
Yes, both are paid gardens. Admission is not included in the package; check the official sites for prices and opening hours.
Can I wear a kimono in the gardens?
Yes, the gardens suit kimono well. Portrait shoots that occupy an area need an advance application; the photographer checks this when you book.