A Quiet Garden Surrounded by Tokyo Skyscrapers

I was in Tokyo for a few days in mid-September 2018. One of the most striking places I visited was this garden in Minato. The main thing that stays with me is the contrast. You're inside this quiet, green, traditionally landscaped space, but it's completely encircled by a wall of modern skyscrapers.

The day was bright and sunny, almost hazy. I walked the paths around the large central pond, which was calm enough to reflect the buildings surrounding it. There are several traditional teahouses and other structures right on the water, connected by long wooden bridges. It wasn't crowded; just a few other people were walking the grounds.

It was a strange feeling to be looking at a perfectly manicured pine tree, then glance up and see the cityscape looming just over the treeline. The garden feels like a bubble of the past preserved in the middle of a massive, modern city.

Just outside the garden, on the side of a huge glass building, was this incredibly intricate, massive mechanical clock. It was an unexpected find and a completely different kind of detailed design compared to the natural forms inside the park.