Kyu Furukawa Gardens Tokyo

旧古川庭園、東京

Kyu Furukawa Gardens is a short subway ride from Korakuen Garden and it is worthwhile seeing both gardens in the same day as well as trying to squeeze in nearby Rikugien Gardens as well.



Originally the property and grounds belonged to Mutsu Munemitsu, a colorful Meiji-era politician, who allied himself with Saigo Takamori in the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877, was subsequently imprisoned but was later rehabilitated and became Japan's foreign minister.



The western-style house in the gardens was designed by the prolific English architect, Josiah Conder (1852-1920), who also built the Rokumeikan, Nikolai Cathedral and Kyu Iwasaki-tei in Tokyo and the Rokkaen in Mie Prefecture.

The brick and slate country house now serves as the Otani Art Museum and is set in terraced, British-style rose gardens with a large, adjacent lawn.



The Japanese gardens were laid out by Kyoto-based landscape designer Ogawa Jihei, aka Niwashi Ueji (1860-1933) and include a pond created in the shape of the Japanese character for heart (心), a waterfall and a dry waterfall (karetaki) using rocks to create the impression of moving water.

The Kyu Furukawa Gardens are noted for their roses, cherry blossoms, azaleas, peonies and maple leaves in season.

Access

Kyu Furukawa Gardens
1-27-39 Nishigahara, Kita-ku, Tokyo 114-0024
Tel: 03 3910 0349
Admission: 150 yen
Hours: 9am-5pm

Kyu Furukawa Gardens is less than 10 minutes walk from Kami-Nakazato Station on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line or Nishigahara Station on the Tokyo Namboku Subway Line. Alternatively about 12 minutes walk from Komagome Station on the JR Yamanote Line.

Japanese Art - byobu screens

J-Pop CDs

Tags

Japan Tokyo Kyu Furukawa Gardens Garden Josiah Conder