Kiyosumi Garden

Kiyosumi Garden is a traditional Japanese stroll garden located in the Kiyosumi-Shirakawa district of Tokyo's Koto Ward. Originally developed in the 1880s by Iwasaki Yatarō, the founder of the Mitsubishi conglomerate, the garden was designed as a private retreat for entertaining important guests and business associates. Following severe damage during the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and World War II air raids, the Iwasaki family donated the property to Tokyo in 1932, and it was subsequently restored and opened to the public in 1977 as a designated Place of Scenic Beauty.

The garden exemplifies the kaiyū-shiki teien style, a type of stroll garden designed to reveal different scenic views as visitors walk along carefully planned paths circling a central pond. At its heart lies a large pond fed by water from the Sumida River, surrounded by meticulously placed rocks collected from across Japan. The garden is particularly renowned for its collection of rare stones, which Iwasaki transported from various regions using Mitsubishi cargo ships. These include stones from famous sites in Izu, Kibi, and Ise, strategically positioned to create naturalistic landscapes and serve as stepping stones across the water.

Visitors can experience the garden's seasonal transformations, from cherry blossoms in spring to vibrant azaleas and irises in early summer, followed by autumn foliage that reflects beautifully in the pond's still waters. The garden features three traditional viewing points: a tsukiyama (artificial hill) offering elevated perspectives, stone arrangements that mimic natural waterfalls, and a traditional ryōtei (Japanese-style house) where guests once gathered for tea ceremonies. The pond itself is inhabited by koi and turtles, while herons and other waterbirds frequently visit the grounds.

Kiyosumi Garden is accessible via the Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon and Toei Oedo lines, located approximately three minutes' walk from the garden entrance. Admission costs ¥150 for adults and ¥70 for seniors over 65, while children under elementary school age enter free. The compact size of roughly 81,000 square meters makes it possible to explore the entire garden in about one hour.