This is the Ikebukuro store of VASARA Kimono Rental. With only one week left this year, if you are busy preparing for the New Year, why not take a leisurely walk and relax your mind? It's nice to wear a kimono to visit a shrine on New Year's Day, but how about wearing a kimono and going to a Western-style building? Did you know that there are some wonderful Western-style buildings around Ikebukuro? This time, we will introduce "Part 2: Spots around Ikebukuro that look great in kimonos".

 

[Kyu-Furukawa Gardens]

The Kyu-Furukawa Garden is located at the same station as Rikugien Garden, which we introduced last time. However, it is in the opposite direction from Rikugien Garden, so it is a short walk from the station. The Kyu-Furukawa Garden takes advantage of the slopes and lowlands of the Musashino Plateau, and is characterized by a Western-style building on a high hill on the north side, a Western-style garden on the slopes, and a Japanese garden on the lowlands. The Japanese garden was designed by Kyoto gardener Ogawa Jihei (1860-1933). In addition to the Kyu-Furukawa Garden, he also designed Murin-an, Yamagata Aritomo's Kyoto villa, Heian Jingu Shrine Garden, Maruyama Park, and the villa gardens of businessmen around Nanzenji Temple. It is a valuable building that retains the original form of one of the few gardens from the early Taisho period, and is a representative structure that realizes harmony between Japanese and Western styles by blending traditional methods and modern technology.

The Western-style building is not the only attraction at Kyu-Furukawa Gardens. We will introduce some of the attractions below.

・Western garden

The garden features a symmetrical geometric pattern and is decorated with roses arranged using three-dimensional techniques such as stone balustrades, stone steps, and water basins, creating a picturesque landscape that harmonizes with the Western-style building. During rose season, you can see roses of a variety of colors.

·Japanese garden

Not only Western gardens, but also Japanese gardens can be seen. This garden was designed by Jihei Ogawa, who was introduced above. The snow hanging and wrapping of pine trees and the frost removal of cycads in winter are seasonal scenes that give a sense of the seasons.

・Tea room

There are many of them in Kyoto, but not so many in the Kanto region. In the tea garden, separated by lumber piles and a garden gate, there is a teahouse where matcha is served only in spring and autumn. Only those who are using the tea ceremony can enter, so please check the "Kyu-Furukawa Garden" website for more details.

 

Please note that you can enter the Western-style building, which is the main part of the "Kyu-Furukawa Gardens," but you must apply in advance by postcard. In addition, the tour is accompanied by a guided tour, so you can enjoy a more detailed look at the building. However, tours and guided tours are limited to three times a day, so you must be punctual to the meeting time, so we recommend that you go with plenty of time.

 

[Guided tour details]

・Time: (1st) Morning session 10:30 a.m. gathering ② (2nd) Afternoon session 1:00 p.m. gathering ③ (3rd) Afternoon session 2:30 p.m. gathering

*Tour time is approximately 1 hour

*For application procedures and contact information, please see the Kyu-Furukawa Gardens website.

・Admission fee: 800 yen (including tax)

*On the day of the tour, payment is required at the reception desk at the entrance to the Western-style building (this fee is separate from the garden admission fee).

 

【detail】

Location: Nishigahara 1-chome, Kita-ku, Tokyo

Opening hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm (entry until 4:30pm)

*Please note that times may change depending on the season and events.

*There are days when the park is closed, so we recommend checking the website before visiting.

Admission fee: 150 yen for adults, 70 yen for those 65 and over (free for elementary school students and junior high school students who live or study in Tokyo)

*Please note that a separate admission fee will be charged for the Western-style building.

Transportation (Train): 1. JR Keihin Tohoku Line "Kaminakazato Station" 7 minute walk 2. Tokyo Metro Namboku Line "Nishigahara Station" 7 minute walk 3. JR Yamanote Line "Komagome Station" 12 minute walk 4. Toden Arakawa Line "Asukayama" 18 minute walk

Transportation (bus): 1) Kita-ku Community Bus (Oji-Komagome route) every 20 minutes, 5 minutes from JR Komagome Station, 20 minutes from JR Oji Station, get off at "Kyu-Furukawa Garden"

 

If you go to Rikugien Garden, why not also visit the Kyu-Furukawa Garden?