Kyū Yasuda Garden, Japanese strolling garden in Yokoami, Tokyo, Japan
Kyū Yasuda Garden is a circular strolling garden in the Yokoami district of Tokyo, built around a central pond supplied with water through an underground system. Stone lanterns stand along the shoreline, and manicured plants frame the walking route that loops around the water.
Honjō Munesuke laid out the garden in 1701 as part of his residence, which later passed through several owners. The Yasuda family donated the grounds to Tokyo City in 1922, opening it to everyone for the first time.
The name Kyū, meaning "former," reflects how this space transitioned from private feudal estate to public ground. Visitors today walk the same circuit paths once reserved for high-ranking guests, observing how water and landscape work together in Japanese garden design.
Admission is free, and the paths are level enough for a slow walk, though some sections can be uneven. The garden closes later in summer than in winter, so visiting in the morning or early afternoon works well year-round.
A hidden pump system mimics the tides, raising and lowering the pond level throughout the day. River water once flowed directly in, but now machinery replaces the natural link to the Sumida.
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