Kyu-Furukawa Gardens in Kita
By Hannah Morse
May is the season for roses. And the best rose garden in Tokyo is here: The Former Furukawa Gardens.
This garden is a part of the Former Furukawa Gardens that was designed by British architect, Josiah Conder (1852-1920). The Furukawas were one of the most successful business families in the early 1900s in Japan.
The gardens are a blending of Japanese and Western styles: The western house is on a hill, the rose gardens are on slopes, and the Japanese gardens are situated on the lowest part of the grounds. The Japanese Garden was designed by a famous gardener from Kyoto, Ueji VII (Jihei Ogawa 1860-1933). He worked on many high-class gardens in Kyoto (Murin-an Villa, Heian Jingu, Maruyama Park, and so on) and in other cities.
In May, roses burst into bloom, and people flock into the garden. Even if you visit here for the roses, please don’t miss the Japanese Garden, too! It was the very first mixed garden that combined Japanese and Western elements.
