Location:
The 20th century Kyu Furukawa Gardens(Kyu-Furukawa Teien) is one of the Nine Tokyo Metropolitan Park in Kita Ward, Tokyo.
The park’s main attractions are a western-style mansion, rose garden, and Japanese garden.
It is 7 minutes walk from JR Kami-Nakazato Station and Tokyo Metro Nishigahara Station.
Besides, people can walk from Asukayama Park. It takes only 15 minutes on foot.
There are eight more such Edo Period gardens.
The other gardens are Rinkugien Gardens, Mukujima Hyakkaen Gardens, Hamarikyu Gardens, Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Gardens, Koshikawa Korakuen Gardens, Kiyosumi Gardens, Tonogayato Gardens, and Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Gardens.
History:
Kyu Furukawa Garden was opened to the public in 1956.
At first, it was a home of a political leader, Munemitsu Mutsu, in the Meiji Period.
But the Furukawa family adopted his second son. As a result, the Furukawa family inherited the garden.
It is important to note that adopting a close relative’s son is Japanese traditional culture.
One of the Furukawa family members, Baron Toranosuke Furukawa, renovated and made the current form of the garden.
However, it became state-owned property after world war second. It is now a Tokyo Metropolitan Garden.
It is worth mentioning that the Furukawa family is one of the renowned business families in Japan. For example, the Furukawa Group, Furukawa Zaibatsu built by the family.
Some of the leading companies in Japan originated from it, such as Fuji Electric, Furukawa Electric, Fujitsu, FANUC, and Advantest.
Scenic Beauty:
The building became one of the Tokyo Cultural Assets in 1982.
In addition, it was selected as a National Site of Scenic Beauty in 2006.
Main Mansion:
The main building of the Kyu Furukawa Garden has two parts and different names.
The first floor is Kyu Furukawa Tei, and the second floor is the Otani Museum of Art.
The building was also opened to the public in 1956.
The Stone western-style house two-story building, Kyu Furukawa Tei, is surrounded by a garden. It is on a hill on the north side of the garden and a slope on the south.
The slope refers to as Musashino Terrace.
However, it is a brick made with a natural slate roof mansion, completed in 1917.
The ground floor and the exterior of the mansion are western styles.
However, the rooms on the second floor are with tatami mats in Japanese style.
It is quite a tall building. However, tall trees hide the Western building and garden.
The second floor is the Otani Museum of Art, and the ground floor is Kyu Furukawa Tei.
The garden has a Japanese garden, pond, teahouse, rose garden, stone steps, and waterfall.
However, it is well designed.
The Japanese-style garden is at the bottom, and the western-style garden is in the middle, between the house and the Japanese garden.
A famous English architect, Josiah Conder, designed it.
People consider him the ‘father of modern Japanese architecture.’
In addition, he also designed the famous Hisaya Iwasaki( Kyu Iwasaki-tei Gardens), Holy Resurrection Cathedral, and Rokumeikan.
Visitors need to pay an extra admission fee to enter the Western-style mention.
Besides, it also has a guide tour system visit.
A guide leads the team and explains what is what of the site. It is about one hour tour.
However, sometimes, the tour needs booking.
Rose Garden:
The western-style rose garden is one of the most beautiful parts of the Kyu Furukawa Garden.
It is basically an Italian and French-style rose garden, on the slope, between the mansion and the Japanese garden.
Various kinds of beautiful roses bloom from mid-May to mid-June.
In addition, the garden hosts a Spring Rose Festival during the time. Thousands of people visit the venue every day.
Besides, the garden keeps some stalls so that visitors can buy drinks and light snacks.
At the same time, the Otani Museum of Art and Kyu Furukawa Tei are open during the Rose Festival.
Spring Rose Festival took place in the garden precinct in 2022 from April 17-June 30.
Japanese Garden:
A famous Japanese gardener, Jihe Ogawa, designed the Japanese garden of the site.
A deep forest surrounds the Japanese garden.
The pond is in the center of the stroll garden. It is an artificial pond called ‘Shinji-ike.’
Shinji-ike pond is a common symbol of the Japanese garden.
Shinji-ike means ‘Heart’ or ‘Heart-form pond.’
There are some magnificent Toros( stone lanterns) around the pond.
Besides, it also has waterfalls, hills, and a teahouse.
It also has Edo-style stone bridges and stone steps.
Stone lanterns, stone bridges, stone steps, waterfalls, and heart-shaped ponds make the garden fantastic any season.
Teahouse:
Kyu Furukawa Garden has a lovely Tea ceremony house covered in tall trees. Sunlight does not fall over it.
The tea house is decorated with beautiful light. The lights are on even on a sunny day.
The gate of the teahouse is made of Bamboo, just like a gate during the Edo.
Moreover, the price is reasonable, only 500 yen per person.
However, it is the perfect place to experience tea ceremony seating on an Edo-style teahouse.
It is reasonable.
But at the same time, the experience of sipping a cup of natural Japanese tea in a historical place is a rare opportunity in life.
Yes!
If you use JR Kami-Nakazato Station, do not forget to visit Hiratsuka-Jinja Shrine. The shrine is just a few steps from the station to the garden.
The shrine and two small torii gates are fantastic.
Best season:
Mid-October to late November
Opening hours:
9:00-17:00
Admission:
Adult: 150 yen
Senior: 70 yen(65 years old and over)
Free: Children & elementary school students
The western-Style building has a separate admission fee.
Access:
Kami-Nakazato Station
(JR Keihin Tohoku Line)
7 minutes walk
Nishigahara Station
(Tokyo Metro Nanboku Line)
7 minutes walk
Komagome Station
(JR Yamate Line )
12 minutes walk
Address:
Kyu Furukawa Gardens, 1 Chome-27-39 Nishigahara, Kita City, Tokyo 114-0024
Official website:
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