Tokyo · Central Tokyo
Kiyosumi Gardens
The grounds were once the estate of the merchant Kinokuniya Bunzaemon, and later of a nobleman of the Edo period. In 1878 Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of the Mitsubishi group, bought the land, and in 1880 he finished building it as 'Fukagawa Shinbokuen', a garden for hosting guests and for the recreation of the company's employees. Yataro himself managed the renovation, and above all the pond: he brought famous stones from all corners of Japan, on the ships of his own company.
In the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1 September 1923 about 20 thousand residents of Fukagawa fled to the garden, and most of them survived because the trees in the garden held back the spread of the fire that burned through the neighborhood. The garden itself was badly damaged: all the buildings burned down except the tea pavilion. In 1924 Iwasaki Hisaya, a member of the family, donated the less damaged eastern half to the city of Tokyo, and it opened as a public park in July 1932.
Good to know
- Next to some of the stones there is a sign with the place of origin: a red stone from Sado, Izu stone, a blue stone from Kishu, Ikoma stone and Sanuki granite, all brought from the corners of Japan.
- The Ryotei pavilion on the pond, the building that survived 1923, can also be rented for events.
- Free admission on 4 May (Greenery Day) and on 1 October (Tokyo Citizens' Day).
- The Fukagawa Edo Museum and Shiryokan-dori, the street in front of it, are on the same street, a few steps from the garden and from the same Exit A3.
What is nearby
Approximate walking minutes from the entrance of Kiyosumi Gardens.
- HereKiyosumi Gardens
- ~3 min
Fukagawa Shiryokan-dori Street
A street of about 800 meters that connects the garden to the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo. Long-established fabric and tofu shops alongside new cafes.
- ~6 min
Fukagawa-juku Honten Food
A restaurant for Fukagawa-meshi, rice with clams cooked in miso, a traditional dish of the Edo fishermen.
- ~6 min
HARMAS GALLERY More to see
A small contemporary art gallery in a renovated warehouse, showing mainly young artists. Open Wednesday to Saturday.
- ~8 min
Blue Bottle Coffee Kiyosumi Flagship Cafe
A cafe and roastery, the first branch of the American chain in Japan. Open every day including holidays.
- ~9 min
ARiSE Coffee Roasters Cafe
A small coffee roastery with beans from Southeast Asia at accessible prices, and a neighborhood atmosphere.