Kyu-Furukawa Gardens, Historic garden in Nishigahara, Japan
Kyu-Furukawa Gardens is a garden in Nishigahara in Japan that combines two separate sections: a western garden on a slope with a brick building and a Japanese garden at ground level with a pond. The design was created by Josiah Conder for the western part and Ogawa Jihei for the Japanese section.
The site was established in 1910 as the residence of the Furukawa family after British architect Josiah Conder designed the building and western section. In April 1956 the garden opened to the public and later received protected status as a cultural property.
The western section displays around 90 rose varieties arranged according to European garden tradition and flowering in early summer. The Japanese area features a teahouse where visitors can experience the ceremony while the heart-shaped pond follows classical design principles.
The entrance is located about seven minutes on foot from Kaminakarazaka Station and opens daily between 9 am and 5 pm. Visitors should note that the western garden sits on a slope and proper footwear is advisable for the paths.
The Japanese section uses traditional ropes hanging from maple tree branches in winter to protect them from snow damage. This technique called yukitsuri is practiced in many historic gardens across Japan but can be observed particularly well here.
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