Kiyosumi Garden, Japanese garden in Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Kiyosumi Garden is a Japanese garden in Koto-ku, Tokyo, that develops around a large pond with island clusters and stone formations. Narrow paths of flat stones lead across the water and connect small land promontories, while low pines and carefully trimmed shrubs line the shore.
Iwasaki Yataro, founder of Mitsubishi, laid out the grounds starting in 1880 as a private retreat for business partners and senior employees. The city of Tokyo took over the area in 1932 and opened it to the public as a municipal park.
The name refers to the surrounding neighborhood and points to the clear water surface that has shaped the grounds since its founding. Visitors follow a curved path along the shore, where tea pavilions of dark wood stand between pines and maple trees.
The grounds open daily from 9 in the morning until 5 in the evening, last entry at 4.30, and lie a few minutes' walk from Kiyosumi-Shirakawa station on the Toei Oedo Line. The path across the pond consists of individual stepping stones, so sturdy footwear with non-slip soles is recommended.
The stepping stones in the water come from dismantled bridge foundations and historic buildings throughout Japan, including granite blocks from an old Tokyo residence. Each stone carries traces of its previous use, visible in wear grooves and fastening marks along the edges.
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