Kyu-Furukawa

The Kyu-Furukawa Gardens are located in the Kita Ward of northern Tokyo. The property is famous for its Western-style home and extensive rose garden. However, there is also an extensive  traditional Japanese stone garden as part of the property.  

The home was the residence of Mutsu Munemitsu (1844-1897) a prominent statesman and diplomat of the Meiji government. The residential building was designed by British architect Josiah Condor. 

The Japanese garden is considered an excellent example of a Taisho era garden and has a pond in the shape of the Chinese character for “heart.” I was surprised to discover that the Japanese portion of the garden was so extensive. It was a nice retreat from the urban sprawl of Tokyo that surrounds the entire garden area.

Tokyo

After departing the United States on June 28 (with Catherine’s blessing), I arrived in Tokyo on Monday,  June 29. I stayed at the Space Hostel Tokyo, a very comfortable, clean, and modern hostel in the Asakusa area of Tokyo. Once rested and settled in, I proceeded to visit the Tokyo Sky Tree.

The Sky Tree is 2,080 ft. tall, making it the tallest tower in the world, and the second tallest building in the world as of 2015. There are two observation decks, one at 1,150 ft., and the other at 1,480 ft. The upper observation deck features a spiral, glass-covered walkway which brings you to the top of the observatory level. The views were incredible and there was even a glass covered floor where you could stand and look straight down to ground level.

Introduction

My Japanese Garden Adventure

From June 28 to July 12, 2015, I embarked on a journey to Japan to visit gardens and castles.

Although a major metropolis, Tokyo offered a number of gardens, temples and shines to visit. However, my plans allowed for only a brief time in the city so that I could maximize  the number of days I could spend in Kyoto where the gardens, temples, and shrines were numerous. 

As I traveled through Japan, I made use of the highly efficient Japanese rail system of bullet trains, or Shinkansen, to quickly make my way to each destination. 

Finally, the purpose of this journey was one of self discovery. I needed to make this trip, and make it alone, to overcome the demons of July 8, 2012 and my brush with death. My ultimate goal was a spiritual quest to discover the meaning of life in this world and my place in it. What better location to do so than in the gardens of Japan.

Following my arrival in Kyoto on July 1, I began my exploration of Kyoto’s many temples, shrines, and gardens.

I chose to spend a bulk of my time in Kyoto because of its long history as Japan’s Imperial capital from 794 to 1868. There are over 1600 temples in Kyoto, many of which contain gardens. As a result, Kyoto has the largest concentration of traditional gardens in all of  Japan. Every type of garden can be found, from karesansui (“Zen gardens”) to flamboyant stroll gardens of the Shoguns and Emperors.

I was fortunate enough to visit seventeen distinct gardens and one castle while touring Kyoto. 

I then made may way by train to the cities of Osaka (July 7) and Himeji (July 9), primarily to see castles, but also to add a few more gardens and temples to my list of sites visited.

I eventually made my way back to Tokyo on the afternoon of July 10 to visit one last garden, do some last minute shopping, and prepare to head home on July 12.