Outline of the Former Iwasaki Residence Garden
The Former Iwasaki Residence Garden is located at 1-3-45 Ikenohata, Taito-ku, Tokyo, and is maintained as a metropolitan garden. The garden is the former residence of the Iwasaki family, founders of the Mitsubishi Zaibatsu. It is a valuable cultural asset that combines a historical building and its garden from the Meiji era. The Western-style building, the Japanese-style building, and the chess room still exist on the vast grounds, offering visitors a glimpse of the glamorous lifestyle of the time.
The park is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and admission is until 4:30 p.m. However, it is closed during the year-end and New Year's holidays, so please be careful when planning your visit. We recommend that you visit early, especially during holidays and consecutive weekends, when crowds are expected.
Admission is 400 yen for adults, 200 yen for those 65 and older, and free for elementary school students and younger and junior high school students residing or attending school in Tokyo. This pricing is designed to accommodate visitors of all ages, especially children and the elderly, to reduce their financial burden.
The former Iwasaki Residence Garden is designated a National Important Cultural Property managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. This management system is expected to ensure that buildings and gardens of historical value are adequately protected and passed on to future generations. Visitors can enjoy the historical space while understanding its importance as a cultural asset.
Historical Background and Significance
The former Iwasaki Residence Garden was built in 1896 as the primary residence of Hisaya Iwasaki, the eldest son of Yataro Iwasaki, founder of the Mitsubishi zaibatsu. The garden reflects the strong influence of Western architecture in Japan at the time and was designed in accordance with Hisaya's wishes. In particular, the Western-style building is based on the 17th-century Jacobean style, with ornate decorations throughout.
The former Iwasaki Residence Garden played an essential role as a guest house for the Mitsubishi Zaibatsu. However, after the war in 1945, GHQ confiscated it and left it in the hands of the Iwasaki family. This confiscation was part of the zaibatsu's dismantling, and the mansion, filled with family memories, was left unattended for a long time. However, the garden was later maintained by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and opened as a metropolitan garden.
The former Iwasaki Residence Garden's architectural style is regarded as a typical example of the Japanese-Western juxtaposition style. This style was created as a result of the fusion of traditional Japanese and Western architecture as Western culture permeated Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1912). In particular, the design of the Western and Japanese-style buildings had a profound influence on the architects of the time and became an important model for later Japanese residential architecture.
Architectural Style and Characteristics
The former Iwasaki Residence Garden's Western-style building was designed in the 17th-century English Jacobean style, and its lavish decoration attracts visitors. This style particularly emphasizes decorative elements, with columns and walls decorated with exquisite carvings and geometric patterns. The Jacobean style symbolized power and wealth in England at the time, and this architectural style reflects the status of the Iwasaki family.
The garden of the former Iwasaki residence embodies a blend of Japanese and Western lifestyles, with the Western-style building and the Japanese-style building connected by a corridor. This Japanese-Western juxtaposition symbolizes the cultural fusion of Japan in the Meiji era, with both buildings complementing each other. A spacious lawn garden extends throughout the garden, and visitors can experience the harmony of Japanese and Western styles in this space.
English architect Josiah Conder designed the former Iwasaki Residence Garden, often called the father of modern Japanese architecture. Condor designed the Western-style building and the chess room, while Kijuro Okawa, a master builder, designed the Japanese-style building. While his design was influenced by the Western architecture of the time, it skillfully incorporated traditional Japanese elements, creating a harmonious blend of Japanese and Western styles.
Garden Highlights
The former Iwasaki Residence Garden's Western-style building was constructed in 1894 and features a luxurious interior and exterior. It was designed by English architect Josiah Conder, and the 17th-century Jacobean style can be seen throughout. The central hall on the first floor is particularly impressive, with its ceiling design and fireplace reminiscent of the Rokumeikan. This Western-style building served as a guesthouse for many distinguished guests then.
The Japanese-style building was constructed by master builder Kijuro Okawa in the traditional Japanese style based on the shoin-zukuri style. This Japanese-style building initially boasted an area of 550 tsubo (approximately 4,860 m2), making it much larger than the Western-style building. Today, only the hall used for weddings, funerals, and other ceremonial occasions remains, but its beautiful design leaves a deep impression on visitors.
The lawn garden of the former Iwasaki Residence Garden is a spacious area where visitors can enjoy the changing scenery of the four seasons. This garden retains the early form of the modern garden, a combination of Japanese and Western styles, and has no pond or artificial hill, giving it an orthodox and soft atmosphere. The lawn garden was mainly used for entertaining distinguished guests and provided an open space for visitors.
Opening Hours and Fees
The former Iwasaki Residence Garden is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visitors must enter the garden by 4:30 p.m. This time frame is designed to provide ample time for strolling through the garden and touring the buildings. In particular, visitors will be able to enjoy the diversity of plants and historical architecture in the garden, which will be a valuable experience for them.
The former Iwasaki Residence Garden is closed during the year-end and New Year holidays, from December 29 to January 1 of the following year. Visitors should be aware that the garden is closed on these days. It is especially important to confirm the dates of your visit in advance, as many people plan their sightseeing trips during these holidays.
Admission to the garden is 400 yen for adults and 200 yen for those 65 and older, while admission is free for elementary school students and younger and junior high school students who live or attend school in Tokyo. This pricing is designed to allow visitors of all ages to casually enjoy the garden. Discounts are also available for group visits, making the garden suitable for schools and groups.
Access Information
Access to the former Iwasaki Residence Garden is very convenient. The nearest station is Yushima Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, which is only a 3-minute walk away. The garden is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and admission is available until 4:30 p.m.
Other transportation options include a 10-minute walk from Ueno-Hirokoji Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line and a 15-minute walk from Okachimachi Station on the JR Line. These stations also offer good access to nearby tourist attractions, allowing visitors to enjoy other sights while visiting the former Iwasaki Residence Garden.
Visitors are strongly encouraged to use public transportation, as there is no parking at the former Iwasaki Residence Garden. The surrounding area is well-served by public transportation so visitors can enjoy a stress-free visit by train or bus.
Dining and Cafe Information
In the former Iwasaki Residence Garden, a tea house is attached to the Japanese-style building where visitors can enjoy matcha green tea and Japanese sweets. This tea ceremony room provides a rare opportunity to relax in a historical atmosphere, offering a moment amid an essential cultural asset. The matcha tea's aroma and the Japanese sweets' sweetness blend to create a heartwarming experience for visitors.
The area around the former Iwasaki Residence Garden, especially around Ueno-Hirokoji Station, has many restaurants offering Japanese and Western cuisine. With dishes that make the most of local ingredients and international menus, visitors can enjoy a delicious meal between sightseeing tours. In particular, there are many well-known Japanese restaurants and casual Western-style restaurants, offering a wide variety of choices to suit visitors' tastes.
The area around Yushima Station is home to many reasonably priced cafes and restaurants, making it a convenient spot for tourists and locals alike. Cafes offering easy lunches and restaurants offering hearty set menus are available, making it an easy place to stop by between sightseeing excursions. Many restaurants are trendy among students and young people, creating a lively atmosphere.
Points to note when visiting
Visitors should expect a tour of the gardens to take approximately 90 minutes. They can tour the buildings, including the Western-style building, the Japanese-style building, and the chess room, and take pictures in the garden. Visitors should also allow approximately 30 minutes for a stroll through the gardens. We recommend that you allow plenty of time for your visit, especially to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the gardens.
At the former Iwasaki Residence Garden, visitors can take landscape photographs of the buildings and gardens, but photography, especially of people, is prohibited. This rule is in place to respect the privacy of other visitors. In particular, the view from the balcony of the Western-style building is beautiful and a great spot to enjoy the garden scenery, so it is a good idea to use this location for landscape photography.
