Higo Hosokawa Garden

Higo Hosokawa Garden, formerly known as Shin-Edogawa Garden until March 18, 2017, is a Japanese garden located near the Kanda River in Bunkyo, Tokyo. The garden was formerly the second home of Hosokawa, the head of Kumamoto Domain at the end of the Edo period, and later became the main residence of the Hosokawa family. The site has been used as a residential location since the mid-Edo period, initially serving retainers of the Shogunate before becoming the suburban residence of the Shimizu family, one of the three counts of the Tokugawa family.

The garden is recognized as one of the 100 best historical gardens in Japan and represents the traditional Japanese stroll garden style. The park features a circular hill-and-pond garden that makes clever use of changes in elevation and natural topography with multiple springs. This strolling garden with pond was built in the mid-Edo period and stands on the grounds of what was the mansion of the Hosokawa Clan from Kumamoto.

Visitors can experience seasonal transformations throughout the year. The garden showcases pastel-pink sakura (cherry blossoms) in spring, Japanese irises in early summer, crimson momiji (maple trees) in fall, and yukitsuri ropework in winter. Autumn colors are visible on the leaves of hazenoki (wax trees), enoki (Chinese hackberry), and momiji (maple trees) around late November to early December. The garden includes Shouseikaku, a traditional residence that visitors can explore alongside the pond-centered landscape. Guests can take a leisurely stroll around the ponds and enjoy the sound of running water at the waterfall.

The garden is easily accessible in Bunkyo Ward and is located at 1-1-22 Mejirodai. Admission to the garden is free during regular hours. Special illumination events are held between November 25 and December 3, with an admission fee of 300 yen for the nighttime viewing. The garden reopened in April 2008 following redevelopment and offers a compact yet authentic Japanese garden experience near the bustling Tokyo center.