Visit Kiyosumi Garden and Enjoy the Beauty of Ryo-Tei, Tea House

Let me introduce my favorite place in Koto Ward, it is Kiyosumi Garden, where is in 3 minutes walking distance from Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station.  A very popular traditional Japanese stroll garden,  covers about 81,000 square meters.

According to the history, this garden was a residence of the famous marchant, Kinokuniya Bunzaemon in the Early 17th century.  In the late 18th century, Mr. Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi Group, obtained the land and rebuilt to use it for the enjoyment of his employees and entertainment of important guests. The hills and waterless waterfalls were constructed and the 52 huge beautiful rocks from all over Japan were brought in by their steamship.  In later years, the waters of the Sumida-River were brought into the grounds to enlarge the pond. The garden provided refuge from the fires of the Great Kanto earthquake of the early 19th century. After that, Mitsubishi group contributed this garden to Tokyo City and after some repair works it was opened to the public.  In 1979, this garden was designated as Tokyo Metropolitan "Place of Scenic Beauty."

Ryo-Tei  涼亭, Tea House (Cool House)

My most favorite place in this garden is Ryo-Tei, it means Cool House in English, a Sukiya-designed Tea House building, designed by Mr. Katsuya Yasuoka, an architecture for Mitsubishi Group in the early 19th century.
Sukiya-designed is a one type of Japanese residential architectural style. Suki means refined, well cultivated taste and elegant pursuits and characterized by a use of natural materials.  It is an authentic Japanese Tea House facing the pond, has a beautiful view from it and it is like a symbol of this garden. Main room is a 27-tatami room with a toilet. It is designated Tokyo Metropolitan Selected History Building.

Now, Ryo-Tei is opened for everyone as an assembling facility, it is used to various kinds of occasions, such as tea ceremony, flower arrangements, Yoga class and many other traditional events as well as  party occasions.  You can bring your own foods and drinks, catering services are also available. 

For your reference, the rental fee is 5,500 yen for 3.5 hours, you can use it at the three-time slots in a day as morning (10:00-13:30), afternoon (14:00-17:30) and evening (18:00-21:30).  It must be booked six months previously. 

I like to visit Ryo-Tei at day time in a sunny day to see the various kinds of waterfront creatures, such as wild birds and turtles, squirrels, carps and many others, moving around in the ponds. I always enjoy to see them, it makes me feel so comfortable and relaxing.

Let' s enjoy the Scenic Beauty of Kiyosumi Garden!!

(by Yukie)

How do you like the walking in Kiyosumi Teien garden? If you like it, please contact us from here and join our free walking tours!