Location:
Kiyosumi Garden is a rocky strolling spring garden representing the Meiji era built by the Iwasaki family in Koto Ward, Tokyo.
However, now the Tokyo Metropolitan owns the garden.
It is one of the Nine Tokyo Metropolitan Cultural Heritage Gardens.
There are eight more such Edo Period gardens.
The other gardens are Rinkugien Gardens, Mukujima Hyakkaen Gardens, Hamarikyu Gardens, Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Gardens, Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Gardens, Koshikawa Korakuen Gardens, Tonogayato Gardens, and Kyu-Furukawa Gardens.
The garden is only 3 minutes walk(A3) from Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station.
History:
Kiyosumi Garden was a part of Kinokuniya Bunzaemon’s residence. He was a famous businessman during Edo Period.
But it became the residence of Kuze Yamatonokami, the feudal lord of Sekiyamo(now a part of Ibaraki Prefecture).
Kuze Yamatonokami built a mansion in 1721 and made a basic garden around it.
But, during the Meiji Period(1868 – 1912), Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of Mitsubishi, bought it.
He developed it.
He collected rocks from all over Japan and placed in the garden.
Furthermore, he made a system to bring water into the pond from the Sumida River.
However, Mitsubishi donated the garden to Tokyo City in 1932.
As a result, the government opened it to the public on July 24 of the same year.
Features:
Founded: Edo Period
Open for Public: July 24, 1945
Area: Garden 37,434.32 square meters
Plants: Black pine, cherry tree, azaleas, iris, and hydrangea.
Scenic Beauty:
Tokyo Metropolitan selected Kiyosumi Garden as a Place of Scenic Beauty on March 31, 1979.
Ryoutei House:
Ryoutei is the main teahouse in the garden.
It is a one-story building with a thatched roof.
Yes, it is just a teahouse like other gardens.
However, it is not simple.
It is a historic house, and it is a significant building.
Iwasaki family built it to welcome England’s Marshal Kitchener during his Japan visit in 1909.
Of course, the government renovated it in 1985.
In addition, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Selected Historical Building in 2005.
The Tokyo Skytree tower looks beautiful from the Ryoutei House over Taisho Memorial Hall.
Iso-Watari:
Iso-watari, in English, is a stepstone or stepping stone pathway.
The Iso-watari makes the garden unique.
Kiyosumi Garden preserves the values of Edo for future generations to use stepstones to cross water and enjoy such thrilling feelings of the Edo Era.
Undoubtedly, visitors are thankful to the government for preserving the Edo values.
Besides, they can experience such values.
Pond:
There is a lovely pond with three separate islands. The names of the islands are Tsurushima, Naka-no-shima, and Matsushima.
Besides, there are pagodas and other symbolic features of Japan on the islands. For example, there is a 15-story pagoda in Matsushima called Taju-no-to.
In addition, there is a Kokonoe (Nine-levels) pagoda.
It is tiny but lovely.
The pagoda is just next to the Nakanoshimahenowatashi Bridge.
Moreover, the garden signifies the whole of Japan.
The pond teems with adorable wildlife.
Visitors can enjoy turtles, carp, and ducks.
The colorful carp swim very close to the stone steps just under the feet of the visitors.
However, only one is connected to the trails with a bridge among the three tiny islands. But the rest two are unreachable.
Visitors cannot reach them. No trails, no stepping stones.
Haiku Poem:
One of the famous Haiko(type of short poem) poems by Matsuo Basho is carved on the monument, which says,
‘An ancient pond
a frog jumps in
the splash of water.’
How sweet!
The short poem describes a compelling sense of the Kiyosumi Garden.
But, the most pleasant matter here is a lovely green Cherry tree.
Not yet. It provides a nice shadow of its surroundings.
It looks beautiful during the cherry blossom, and hundreds of people sit around it.
But, even in Summer, it is the right spot to sit and take lunch.
Besides, it is an excellent place to view the iris garden from here.
Taisho Hall:
There is an Emperor Taisho Memorial Hall near the entrance.
The hall has meeting facilities.
Many people prefer doing it in meetings. Visitors can enjoy the garden from the hall.
However, the hall facilities need booking.
The main lawn of the garden is in front of the hall.
There are small rocks on the green grassy lawn. Besides, a stepstone pathway through the lawn connected the hall, pond, and entrance.
It is lovely.
One more interesting element at the entrance is a traditional Japanese well. It is excellent.
The method of the well is unique.
The water of a well is usually below the surface of the ground. But, interestingly, the water drops from a bamboo tube into the stone well.
The technic is very impressive.
However, it may not be noticeable during the entrance. It is just on the left of the exit.
Picnic spot:
The west side of the Kiyosumi Garden was opened as an open park in 1977.
The park is 43,656.95 square meters. It is free and opens 24 hours.
It has a dry pond, grass, green trees, and cycling trails.
The park also has benches. Four people can sit together.
It is an excellent picnic spot.
Hundreds of people mostly do parties and picnics in the park during the bloom of Cherries, Azaleas, wisterias, and hydrangea.
Admission:
Adult: 150 yen
Senior: 70 yen(65 years old and over)
Free: Children until Elementary school students
Opening hours:
9:00-17:00
(Admission is until 16:30)
Closed days
Year-end & New Year
(December 29-January 1)
Access:
Nearest Station: Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station
(Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line/Toei Oedo Line)
3 minutes walk(Exit A3)
Phone: 03-3641-5892
Address:
3 Chome-3-9 Kiyosumi, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0024
Official website:
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