Higo Hosokawa Garden vs Rikugien

Hi everyone!

During the 1st week of December I want to visit both gardens. Especially when I read they will have light-up event. At first I plan to go each place on separate days but their distance is quite far from my lodging (Kuramae). If I were to choose 1 garden just for day time visit and the other one just for light-up event, which would you recommend? If I do this I can combine both gardens for same day visit since they are not far from each other.
If I were to do each garden on separate days whereby I visit in the day time then wait to re-enter for light-up event, that would mean I’d need to wait around at the entrance from exit time until it’s dark enough for the lightings to be great. Really don’t know what to do! Your thots please..?

I like Rikugien better. But have never been to any light up events.

there is an asian saying that "only kids would have to choose"
with the tokyo subway system so accessible and if you dont mind the double entries
then you can easily go to both either day or night on the same day

please see discounted tokyo subway pass at
https://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/travel/index.html

there is no reason that you have to wait at the park entrance for re-entry (unless you time it well)
just go to nearby areas for bonus sightseeing with the subway pass in between
you can even use it to return to 蔵前 Kuramae
which is 21min from 駒込 where 六義園 Rikugien
or 江戸川橋 where 肥後細川庭園 Higo Hosokawa Garden is

on a more serious note
if you are running short of time and HAVE to choose
六義園 Rikugien is far more popular than 肥後細川庭園 Higo Hosokawa Garden
meaning the light up event will be better funded and planned
however 六義園 Rikugien is worthwhile seeing under daylight also (entrance fee at 240円)

at the same time why would we want to dissuade you from
肥後細川庭園 Higo Hosokawa Garden especially when it is free entrance
(at least during daytime)

it only takes 16min to travel between the 2 subway stations (駒込~江戸川橋)
where 六義園 Rikugien and 肥後細川庭園 Higo Hosokawa Garden are
so it will be a piece of cake to conquer both with the subway pass day and night

have a wonderful trip ~

Thanks Anastasia… When I checked google maps it takes longer from Kuramae to these 2 gardens and requiring not just trains but buses too. I will search for nearby attractions or cafes to fill in the timing between day and night visits. We are in our mid 50s and definitely won’t do day+night visit for both gardens in 1 day. Both seems very nice and seems hard to decide if picking one for day visit while another one for light-up. Anyway, there is still no announcement when the events will be held this year.

Hmm… When I checked google maps it takes longer from Kuramae to these 2 gardens and requiring not just trains but buses too

My google maps says one change at Kasuga station from Kuramae to Rikugien and one change at Iidabashi for the other garden.
And a direct bus 上58 between the two.

Kuramae to Rikugien: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QX3rNhqdgaeV7RFz8?g_st=ic

Kuramae to Higo Hosokawa: https://maps.app.goo.gl/z4bi3sjHp6KN4EKP6?g_st=ic

good morning

lets take your first google map as an example
https://maps.app.goo.gl/QX3rNhqdgaeV7RFz8?g_st=ic

expands the details for the first option reveals that
蔵前 (大江戸線) Kuramae ~ 春日 Kasuga for 7min on 都営大江戸線 Oedo Line
walk 2min to 後楽園 Korakuen for transit (as suggested by @LikeBike)
take another subway
後楽園 Korakuen ~ 駒込 Komagome for 6min on 東京メトロ南北線 Namboku Line
walk 8min to 六義園 Rikugien

please note that 蔵前 Kuramae has 2 different subway stations and hence perhaps the confusion

in tokyo which is a huge metropolitan city
any subway ride / walk under 10min is considered relatively close by distance
as it easily takes more than 30min to walk from one end of tokyo station to the other end

ps
mid 50s is the new young especially in the world of ageing population
unsure about your health condition and physical fitness
but staying young by thinking young is always the first step towards happy long living

have a wonderful trip~

by the way there is a really nice and well known soba (buckwheat noodles) restaurant
just right across from the entrance of 六義園 Rikugien

table seating with modern service at a very reasonable price given its 100+ years history
https://komagome.komatuan.com/

it is open during 11:00 ~ 22:00 so can be a nice place
for your day to night time transition if you are interested :)
soba is one of the healthiest food in japan. more details at
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2341.html

have a wonderful trip ~

Thanks. I already got dinner planned elsewhere 🤭
My friend has health issue and can’t walk too much.

Thanks. I already got dinner planned elsewhere 🤭
My friend has health issue and can’t walk too much.

I've been to both and more, and they are both quite nice. But Rikugien is by far larger and better.
https://youtu.be/Wjdb5rGGGbI

Higo Hosokawa Garden doesn't take that long. It is also free. It's unclear why you are choosing that particular place. If you want to see some of the best, besides Rikugien there is Koishkawa Korakuen, which is also very good and worth your attention.
https://youtu.be/knNOoa8dOs0

I’ve not been to Higo before is the reason why I’m considering it. Koishikawa I’ve been twice, as recent as last April.

OK, that's fine. There are still better ones though, like Kiyosumi, Kyu-Shiba Rikyu, Tonogayato, Happoen, the Japanese garden at Showa Kinen Park or Shinjuku Gyoen, etc. If for some reason you still want to go to Higo-Hosokawa, you could also go see Kansenen Park which is very close by, since they are not that large and time consuming.
https://goo.gl/tAECfM

Hi Ken,
Thanks for your feedback plus the link to videos of the gardens.
For this trip I will bring my friend to Rikugien (Day & Light-up), Otaguro Park (Day & Light-up), Kiyosumi Teien, and Mejiro Garden. Will replace Higo Hosokawa with another place. Perhaps something slightly different from what’s in my list? I had visited Kiyosumi Teien and Happoen. Both I enjoyed.

Well, if you're already going into the suburbs to see Otaguro Park, I suggest you also keep going and see Showa Kinen Park. Its Japanese garden is different and quite remarkable. The park is huge in fact and you could spend half a day or more there - it took me 45 minutes walking from one end to the other.
If you needed to stay in Tokyo, then I'd suggest Kyu-Shiba Rikyu or Kyu-Furukawa. But if you have the time, one other good place is the Japanese garden at the New Otani Hotel. Non-guests can go see it in the day, and the garden actually has a history going back 4 centuries.

Thanks Ken!