Kyū Shiba Rikyū Garden
This compact Edo-period strolling garden sits just minutes from Hamamatsucho Station, offering a rare chance to frame classical Japanese landscaping against the backdrop of Tokyo's modern skyline. The central pond is your main subject, and the best compositions place ornamental stones, pine trees, or the small island in the foreground with office towers rising behind them, creating that striking contrast between old and new. Overcast days work particularly well here because soft, even light brings out the greens without harsh shadows cutting across the water. Early morning on clear days gives you reflections in the pond before wind disturbs the surface. A 24-70mm lens covers most situations, letting you go wide for skyline context or compress slightly for tighter garden details. The garden is small enough to walk fully in under an hour, so take your time circling the pond and shooting from the arched stone bridges. (Tokyo, Japan)
