Former Furukawa Gardens

The gardens were built as the residence of Toranosuke Furukawa, the third head of the Furukawa conglomerate. Taking advantage of its location on the slopes of the Musashino Plateau, a Western-style mansion was built on a small hill on the north side, and a Western-style garden was placed on the pitch, while a Japanese-style garden was placed on the lower ground.

The Western-style mansion and garden were designed by Dr. Josiah Conder, an Englishman who also designed the Rokumeikan and Nicholai-do, whose works have profoundly influenced the world of Japanese architecture. The Japanese garden was designed by Jihei Ogawa, known as Ueji VII, a Kyoto gardener who also created the Heian Jingu Shrine Garden and Maruyama Park. The gardens created by these two geniuses are a rare example of a well-preserved modern garden in which Japanese and Western styles are in perfect harmony. The gardens have been designated a national "place of scenic beauty (of high artistic or ornamental value)."

The Western-style garden is planted with roses, which are picturesque in May and June and in October and November when they bloom. The Japanese garden, centered around the Shinji-Ike Pond, has a calm atmosphere with the "karesansui (dry landscape)" waterfall and a large 20-meter waterfall to the basin.