Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa Gardens

February 10, 2010
26 Comments
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A few weeks ago I went to a meeting near Shinagawa at the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa. The coffee shop in the hotel where we met had a great view of the hotel's traditional Japanese garden. After the meeting I took some photos of the garden before it got dark. The garden was quite beautiful.
The red wood and roof ornaments stood out brilliantly against the trees in the background. The low f/stop on the lens did a great job here.
The red wood and roof ornaments stood out brilliantly against the trees in the background. The low f/stop on the lens did a great job here.
Colored wooden structures in Japan always seem to have a certain charm. They look so totally in harmony the surroundings, and yet only meters away are new modern concrete buildings.
Colored wooden structures in Japan always seem to have a certain charm. They look so totally in harmony the surroundings, and yet only meters away are new modern concrete buildings.
Pathways and the lights that come on at night are a nice defining line to this garden landscape.
Pathways and the lights that come on at night are a nice defining line to this garden landscape.
Nice contrast of green and red with some slight mix of gold in the roof beams.
Nice contrast of green and red with some slight mix of gold in the roof beams.
Looking through the entrance way to the gardens.
Looking through the entrance way to the gardens.
A nice mixture of greenery , rocks and water.
A nice mixture of greenery , rocks and water.
I could imagine this setting in Kyoto. It is hard to imagine that this garden is in the middle of a hotel complex and only minutes away from a major Tokyo Station.
I could imagine this setting in Kyoto. It is hard to imagine that this garden is in the middle of a hotel complex and only minutes away from a major Tokyo Station.
The roof is very grand. A lot of work has gone into this.
The roof is very grand. A lot of work has gone into this.
The tea house area for reserved guests.
The tea house area for reserved guests.
Some of the garden pieces were mixed in with the greenery.
Some of the garden pieces were mixed in with the greenery.
The main hotel building can be seen in the background here. It looked quite strange to see such a large building looming over the garden from this angle. Like coming out of a forest clearing and seeing the big city.
The main hotel building can be seen in the background here. It looked quite strange to see such a large building looming over the garden from this angle. Like coming out of a forest clearing and seeing the big city.
You can see the modern glass building of the hotel apartments in the background of this building. It doesn't actually spoil the look or atmosphere of the traditional garden.
You can see the modern glass building of the hotel apartments in the background of this building. It doesn't actually spoil the look or atmosphere of the traditional garden.
Beautiful surroundings.
Beautiful surroundings.
Some of the garden ornaments were leaning to one side. I had to check my balance a few times when taking this photo to see whether I had the camera straight.
Some of the garden ornaments were leaning to one side. I had to check my balance a few times when taking this photo to see whether I had the camera straight.
Great detail here on this piece. Is that a dragon?
Great detail here on this piece. Is that a dragon?
Trying out a bit of depth focus on this bridge. A little bit hard to stare at this photo for too long. Your eyes start to struggle to find a focus point across the bridge. Like walking the tightrope over a canyon.
Trying out a bit of depth focus on this bridge. A little bit hard to stare at this photo for too long. Your eyes start to struggle to find a focus point across the bridge. Like walking the tightrope over a canyon.
Arches through to the main structure.
Arches through to the main structure.
One of the garden objects.
One of the garden objects.
Nice little stream with a mixture of greenery.
Nice little stream with a mixture of greenery.
It is nice to see some small bridges in Japanese traditional gardens spanning the water. Some are curved, maybe painted red, others like this one are more plain, but equally pleasing to the eye.
It is nice to see some small bridges in Japanese traditional gardens spanning the water. Some are curved, maybe painted red, others like this one are more plain, but equally pleasing to the eye.
From the traditional garden across to the hotel there is a nice transition area where they have some lawn grass.
From the traditional garden across to the hotel there is a nice transition area where they have some lawn grass.
The bridge crossing over to the main garden.
The bridge crossing over to the main garden.
Looking back at the main Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa.
Looking back at the main Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa.
There was a nice steak house restaurant in the grounds of the hotel. This would be a good place for a meal at night.
There was a nice steak house restaurant in the grounds of the hotel. This would be a good place for a meal at night.
A lion sitting in protection of the hotel grounds.
A lion sitting in protection of the hotel grounds.
There are a number of Takanawa Hotels in the complex. It is quite easy to get lost looking for the right path to take. The garden sits in between the middle of them all.
There are a number of Takanawa Hotels in the complex. It is quite easy to get lost looking for the right path to take. The garden sits in between the middle of them all.
The winding round leading up to the top of the Hotel complex.
The winding round leading up to the top of the Hotel complex.

Do you enjoy looking at traditional Japanese gardens?

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Shibuya246

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  • Very nice pics! The hotel seems interesting: it looks nice with the big windows on the ground floor, but grey and dull on the upper floors. Loved the pic of the curved road and the gardens.

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  • yes, a nice japanese Dragon.
    how do I know is japanese? only 3 claws.. chinese one have 4 or 5 for the imperial dragon.. korean dragon heve 4.. some times 3, if influence by Japan..

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    • There are Chinese oriental dragons with 3 claws. A dragon with 5 claw is a symbol of the Emperor of China; dragons with 4 claws are symbols for Zhuhou (hereditary nobles); and dragons with 3 claws are symbols of Daifu who are high ranking officials (commoners). 🙂

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      • wow! Glad I didn’t try to guess what type is was. Very detailed. Thank you so much for the info. I will take a closer look next time I see a dragon in a garden 🙂

  • By seeing pics of these , it makes me feel more relaxed and peaceful .

    I personally would like to go there and feel the harmony , nature and peacefulness of the Garden with its Ornaments and buildings .

    Sometimes , You just have to appreciate nature’s beauty .

    I really Love those Traditional Japanese houses .

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  • RT @tweetmeme Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa Gardens, Japan Photo-Post http://bit.ly/aKW3w1 A peaceful and harmonious setting. I would really love that dragon statue for my office.Seeing I collect all types of dragon statues. And thanks to that tip from santa on telling what kind of dragon that is, I didn’t know that either. Ilike those kind of settings, a bit of the old mixed in with the new. Another great photo shoot, by the 1 and only Shibuya246. 🙂

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  • Thanks for the stroll. It was a very peaceful way to start the day. I love the contrast between the simple and the ornate and contrived; everything goes so harmoniously together. The garden appears to hold its own against the surrounding buildings.

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  • This is a beautiful garden. I remember the Hotel New Otani has one very similar to this. A real contrast to the often boring building which is the hotel itself.

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  • Gorgeous photos of the Japanese garden. It seems like a tranquil spot to meditate, did the noise of the city disrupt your picture taking?

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  • These pics are beautiful! You always take great pictures! One thing about the ‘lion’ it’s actually a Chinese dog. We have two of those just like that at my school outside the library and everyone always thinks they are lions but they’re really dogs 😀

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  • Excellent pictures; as you say so tranquill considering how close it is to the hustle and bustle of city life. Are the gardens free to roam around or do you need to be a paying guest?

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  • I stayed at one of the hotels in this complex, the Prince Sakura Tower. The garden was really nice and calm. It felt separated from the rest of the city. Hard to imagine that the train station was only like 5 mins away, yet it was peaceful here.

    Btw, love your site and photos. Got to see a lot of stuff you saw. Got hundreds of photos of the surrounding sites. Hope to find more cool places during my long-term stay in Japan.

    Reply

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