Kyu-Furukawa Gardens: A Photo Guide to Tokyo’s English Oasis
Imagine stepping off a bustling Tokyo street and into a scene from the English countryside, complete with a stone manor and a fragrant rose garden. This isn’t a dream; it’s the Kyu-Furukawa Gardens, a stunning example of Taisho-era elegance and a photographer’s paradise. You can’t get much more English than that, can you? Josiah Conder, a British architect, was responsible for its design. Flower photographers love it.
Josiah Conder mansion: Blending East and West
The mansion’s architect was Josiah Conder, the father of modern Japanese architecture. He also designed other famous Tokyo landmarks like the Kyu-Iwasaki-tei Gardens and the Holy Resurrection Cathedral. The building is a blend of styles, with a Western-style ground floor and Japanese-style rooms with tatami mats on the second floor. Now, it is open to the public in the twenty-first century.
The famous rose garden
When the roses bloom, the grounds overflow with people. Everyone comes with a camera or a smartphone to photograph the sea of color. The garden is alive with brilliant reds and oranges through yellows, pinks, and whites.
It’ll be picture-perfect if you visit when the weather is right. There are approximately 100 varieties and 200 rose plants spread between the upper and lower gardens. The staff at Furukawa tend to them with great care and have created something outstanding. Luckily, we can see the blooms twice a year, in May and October. Without a doubt, it is in the city’s top five.
Japanese garden: Heart-shaped pond
At the rear of the property is a Japanese garden (not designed by Conder). It is a mini-version of other Edo-period ones in Tokyo. This area is best seen in autumn. The pond’s name is Shinji-ike. It was intentionally shaped like the kanji character for “heart” (心). A waterfall (“Otaki”) empties into it. For good measure, there is a teahouse and another waterfall (Karetaki), though this one is dry.
Photography tips for Kyu-Furukawa
- Tripods are allowed, but not when the roses bloom.
- During the rose season, the weekends will be crowded. Go on a weekday to ameliorate that problem.
- A polarizing filter can reduce glare on leaves and the pond’s surface, improving color saturation.
- Two staircases lead through the lower rose garden down to the Japanese garden. It is forbidden to take pictures from it during the rose festivals, as it could be dangerous when many people are there. Security monitors the area carefully.
- Take a macro lens and a flash for the best flower photography.
When to visit: Seasons and festivals
Annual rose festivals
There are the annual Spring Rose (typically late April to June) and the Autumn Rose Festivals (in October). They draw large crowds and often feature special illuminations (in spring) and music performances. Here is my archive of prior events I have attended:
Year-round beauty beyond the roses
Spring has cherry blossoms, summer has lush greenery, and autumn has vibrant foliage.
Visitor information: Location, access, costs, & hours
Where are Kyu-Furukawa Gardens?
Address: 1-27-39 Nishigahara, Kita City, Tokyo
Here it is on a Google map:
Closest train stations
- Kami-Nakazato on the Keihin-Tohoku Line
- Komagome on the Yamanote and Namboku Lines
- Nishigara on the Namboku Line
Opening hours
- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry at 4:30 p.m)
- Kyu-Furukawa Gardens close over the New Year Holidays from December 29 to January 1.
Admission costs
¥150
Mansion tours
The guided tours of the mansion require an advance application, by email, and have a separate fee (¥800 payable on the day at the entrance). Check the official Kyu-Furukawa Gardens (Japanese) website for the latest application process and schedule, as simply showing up may not guarantee entry. Unfortunately, they are in Japanese only.
Nearby photo spots
- Hokutopia (Observatory)
- Rikugien Gardens (an Edo-period park a short walk away)
- Somei Cemetery
A brief history of Kyu-Furukawa
- The statesman Mutsu Munemitsu originally owned the property, but it passed to the Furukawa family when they adopted his second son.
- The current buildings and gardens were commissioned by Baron Toranosuke Furukawa and completed between 1917-1919.
- Josiah Condor (1852 – 1920), the English architect, designed the mansion.
- Jihei Ogawa (1860 – 1933), a Kyoto designer, created the Japanese garden.
- Kyu-Furukawa is a typical example of the gardens of the Taisho Period. Some people compare it to Kyu-Iwasaki Gardens in Ueno.
Is Kyu-Furukawa worth visiting?
I love Kyu-Furukawa as it is picturesque. But make sure you go in May or October for the rose festival! Josiah Conder gifted Tokyo with a little piece of England! Jihei Ogawa also left behind a fabulous place to celebrate autumn at his pond.
With its stunning architecture and beautiful gardens, Kyu-Furukawa is a rosy dream for any visitor. Flower photographers, in particular, need to put it on their bucket list.
Which part of the garden would you be most excited to photograph, the English mansion are or the Japanese pond?
