Welcome to tropical world in Tokyo!

12 June 2014

Have you ever seen a tropical rainforest? It is hot, wet and located near equator. It has high levels of biodiversity: low and high trees with colorful flowers, beautiful insects and unique animals. The Amazon rainforest in South America is the biggest in the world. South part of the archipelago of Japan, such as Amami, Okinawa and Ogasawara, has also tropical rainforests. 

Tropical rainforest region is far from Tokyo City but you will be surprised when I tell you that you can enjoy it just 30 minutes from Tokyo Station. It is a botanical garden with a big greenhouse named “Yumenoshima Tropical Greenhouse Dome.” Yumenoshima (Dream Island) was a notorious landfill area but now was developed into a park. The botanical garden, established in 1988, is a part of Yumenoshima Park run by Tokyo Metropolitan Government. It has a large greenhouse dome, a small greenhouse for carnivorous plants, a herb garden, an event hall, a video hall and a cafeteria. Entrance fee is just 250 yen for adult and 100 yen for Junior high school students. Primary school and younger children are free.

Location: The closest station is Shinkiba on the JR Keiyo Line (from Tokyo Station), Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line (from Ikebukuro, Ichigaya and Yurakucho Station) or Rinkai Line (from Osaki and Oimachi Station). After getting off the train, walk for 2 minutes along the Meji Avenue to the north. Enter the entrance of Yumenoshima Park. Go eastward through the lawn field of the park where families enjoy a day out eating their lunch or playing exciting sports. Shortly after, we see a big greenhouse dome. It takes 15 minutes from Shinkiba Station to the entrance of the botanical garden.

Highlight: To begin with, the main big greenhouse is divided into three domes with different themes. Passing through the entrance, we see exotic tropical water lily on a small pond. A number of unique tree ferns surround the pond, giving the feeling to walk around a tropical rainforest. 

Then, we come to the palm forest zone with domestic pants. Royal palms and king palms grow so high that they reach up to the ceiling. Crops like bananas, cacaos and star fruits are also planted in the zone. At the third dome, we enjoy precious plants from Ogasawara islands, Japan. The odd-shaped aerial roots of Pandanus boninensis, the indigenous plant in Ogasawara are impressive (see the right picture). It is named “Takonoki” in Japanese, meaning “octopus tree.” 

Close to the exit, we find remarkable trees and the leaves spread out in a rare fan-like form. The tree is called traveler's palm, coming from Madagascar.

Foods and Drinks: A small cafeteria, located just beside the big greenhouse, has a nice view of fantastic plants. You can enjoy fantastic ethnic foods and drinks here. Indonesian and Vietnamese dishes are available. It is worth trying tropical fruit desserts such as durian, mango and coconut ice creams and fruits. Mango and guava juices taste good. It is also allowed just to take a seat and a rest. If you prepare lunch, you can bring foods and drinks here without ordering anything.

The botanical garden is compact but very unique. In addition to trees in the main greenhouse, insect-eating plants in a small greenhouse are well worth seeing. Events like art craft, cooking, science, and lectures are hold every weekend. We can enjoy the tropical forest even in central Tokyo.

Summary

1. Time: 9:30 – 17:00 (enter before 16:00)
2. Closing day: Mondays (Tuesdays in case of holidays) and from 29 December to 3 January
3. Contact: TEL：03-3522-0281 Address: 2-1-2 Yumenoshima Koto-ku 136-0081 Tokyo
4. Getting there: 15 minutes walk from Shinkiba Station of JR Keiyo Line from Tokyo Station, Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line from Yurakucho Station or Rinkai Line from Osaki Station.
5. Ticket: Buy at the entrance. Fee: ¥250 (adult), ¥120 (65 years or more), ¥100 (Junior high school student living outside Tokyo) and free (Junior high school student living in Tokyo, primary school or younger child, disable person and an attendant)
6. Annual passport: Buy at the entrance. ¥1000 (general) and ¥480 (65 years or more).
7. Facility: a large greenhouse dome, a small greenhouse for carnivorous plants, a herb garden, an event hall, a video hall, cafeteria and souvenir shop
8. Food and drinks: Cafeteria serves you ethnic foods and tropical drinks and desserts. You can take a seat and rest without ordering in the cafeteria.
9. Events: Exhibition on plants, craft workshop using plants, cooking with herbs, music concert and dance on weekend
10. Review: Plants in greenhouses are good particularly for family, senior adults and everyone interested in nature. Foods and drinks are reasonable.