Hana Biyori offers a refreshing escape within Tokyo. The botanical garden features a wide variety of flowers, making it a great destination especially from early spring onward. The cherry blossoms in Hana-Biyori are said to be quite popular, and spring is definitely the best time for flower viewing. Beyond the gardens, one can also soak in an open-air hot spring bath with a view of the city skyline (or relax indoors if you prefer), and reconnect with nature… All that without leaving the city. 😁
I went in mid-spring, when the weather was pleasantly breezy and slightly cool, ideal for sightseeing. 🙂 It wasn’t too sunny that day, though. But it was important we still got to stroll around and enjoy the gardens in full bloom. ❤️
Lunch at Bishoku no Kiwami
Bishoku no Kiwami, located within the Kakeinoyu building where the hot bath facilities are, is Hana-Biyori’s in-house restaurant. If your itinerary includes having a meal stop at Hana-Biyori, I’ve linked the latest menu so you can plan ahead. We spent the entire day at the botanical garden, and I was told that Starbucks only offered snacks. There’s no other dining option unless you bring your own food.
My lunch was a Zarusoba, one of my go-to Japanese dishes (very basic 😁), with a side of Dashimaki Tamago.
I also spotted these courtesy umbrellas at Kakeinoyu. They look expensive af, lol. I hadn’t bought a Japanese umbrella at this point, but seeing them definitely reminded me to get one.
Hana-Biyori Main Hall
Inside the main hall of Hana-Biyori are over 300 ❗ mesmerizing hanging flower pots. You’ll also find a souvenir shop, several photography backdrops with floral ornaments along the sides of the hall, the 400 year-old Parabolaccio tree, tropical fish tanks, and even otter feeding.
Hana Biyori’s souvenir shop offers a wide variety of items, including otter stuffed toys in all sizes. I forgot to take photos because I was too busy debating with myself about whether to buy a few, haha. 🤭
These Asian small-clawed otters are so cute! There’s an otter feeding experience available on weekends and holidays at specific times, though it comes with an additional fee.
The Botanical Garden Starbucks
I guess it depends on the day or time, but by mid-afternoon, the snack selection was quite limited. The drinks menu, however, was still complete with everyone’s favorites, including the seasonal offerings (back then it was the Gohobi Melon Frappuccino). If you’re looking for merch, there’s not a lot. It was actually the first thing I looked for, since Starbucks in Japan usually have location-based limited merchandise. But at the time there was none available.
Some of the wooden seats/benches at Starbucks are handmade by local artisans. JapanKuru shows a picture of its dining area, which is really fascinating. I would hang out here often if I could (maybe even sneak a peek of Yomiuri Giants practicing, lol).
Gardens
The other side of the main hall (or Starbucks’ main entrance) is surrounded by even more flowers. As you can see, I enjoyed taking a lot of photos. 😅Most of them were taken with a Fujifilm X-T2. I just wish I could recall the film simulations I used.
At the other side, are several statues including Buddhist monks and a pagoda. From there, one of the rides of Yomiuriland can be seen.
The Bamboo Akari features about 1000 bamboo lights, which I assume stay lit in the evening to illuminate the garden grounds. Probably also when the weather is gloomy, like on the day we visited.
Tokyo Garden by Piet Oudolf
One of the gardens in Hana-Biyori was designed by Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, situated in front of the main hall (from what I understand).
Getting to and Location of Hana-Biyori
We went to Hana-Biyori using the Keio Line from Shinjuku, which is the shortest among the other access routes. It was only about 30 minutes of travel. The official website has a guide, but I suggest following Google Maps instead.
Hana-Biyori is open from 10 AM to 8:30 PM, with entrance fees of JPY800 for adults and JPY500 for children. Discount is available when purchasing online. Hana-Biyori’s website provides further details.
Lastly, proof of life no one asked for that I was really there. 🤭
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