Feeling the autumn breeze at Kiyosumi Gardens

A cool autumn has now arrived at the Kiyosumi Gardens in Tokyo with its pomegranate trees swaying their fruits in the gentle breeze.

Most of the leaves, however, remain as green as ever here in the gardens in Tokyo's Koto City. Some maple leaves have already begun showing a little change in their colors.

In the late 19th century, Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of the Mitsubishi Group, obtained a wide swathe of land, in order to make recreation facilities for his company employees and build a Japanese-style guest house to welcome dignitaries. Nice stones were collected from around the country and brought by ship. It took three generations of the Iwasaki family to lay the foundation of the present gardens.

The Iwasaki family later donated the gardens to the City of Tokyo. The Gardens were opened to the public in 1932.

The Kiyosumi Gardens were once used as a place for evacuees after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the Tokyo air raid by the U.S. forces in March 1945.

Kiyosumi Gardens:Kiyosumi 3-3-9, Koto City, Tokyo 135-0024

Access: 3 minutes walk from the Kiyosumi-shirakawa subway station

Admission: 150 yen for adults, 70 yen for those aged 65 or over

Hours: 9 am to 5 pm (closed Dec. 29 through Jan. 1)

By Kozo

Why don't you visit this beautiful Japanese garden with our English speaking guides? If you are interested in this garden, please contact us from our web site.

Relaxing day at Yumenoshima

Yumenoshima, literally "land of dreams" is reclaimed landfill at south east part of Koto-city.
It was a final landfill site for 10 years from 1957, but thereafter was developed into beautiful "Yumenoshima Park" in 1978.
This park is currently known as one of the largest green space area in Tokyo. We can observe various wildflowers blooming season to season.

Yumenoshima Park in Koto City

In BBQ area, facilities and pits are free of charge if it they are reserved. The area is capable for eating and drinking together with pets. During holidays and weekends, here is full of families and students.

On a rainy day? No problem.
At "Yumenoshima Tropical Greenhouse Dome" located at east of park, we can enjoy walking through rare tropical plants and even falls in three big atriums. Taking a breather at cozy café in it is also nice.

Tropical Greenhouse Dome

The inside of the Tropical Greenhouse Dome

In west side of park, many grounds and fields are open to general public in addition to students. The new ground for archery event in Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic game is now under construction.

How about going for a walk at Yumenoshima and have a relaxing day there?

access: 7 minutes walk from Shinkiba station

By Kaoru K

Moon-Viewing in Fukagawa Edo Museum

Seasonal Festivals among Commoners in Edo

During the Edo period (1603-1867), several seasonal festivals are said to have observed as the holidays for the people. With the adoption of the new calendar in 1873, the holidays were abolished, however, the annual festivals are still celebrated by Japanese people.
You can enjoy the decorations of six annual events (New Year, Inari Shrine Festival, Doll Festival, Boy’s Festival, Star Festival and Moon-Viewing Festival) displayed in Fukagawa Edo Museum.

Moon-Viewing Festival

Moon-Viewing Festival is one of the seasonal festivals. For this year, the full moon on the fifteenth night falls on September 24, and the moon on the thirteenth night on October 21.
For both days, the seasonal offerings are set on a stand in the moonlight, and people celebrate a huge harvest of five main cereals as "a harvest festival" and enjoy the beauty as "a moon-viewing party."

"Furyu Genji Tukuda"

UTGAWA Hiroshige and SANDAI Toyokuni

* A beautiful woman is enjoying  full  moon on the terrace alongside Sumida River close to Fukagawa Edo Museum.

Offerings for moon-viewing 

For both nights, seasonal harvests, rice dumplings and sake are offered. Seasonal plants such as Japanese silver grass and ominaeshi (yellow patrinia) are offered along with crops including taros, Japanese chestnuts and green soybeans.
Two different size of dumplings were made. Large one made for an offering to the moon was 10.5 cm in diameter and small one was 6 cm in diameter for a family to eat.
The taro was once considered as the staple food along with rice cakes.

Modern Dumplings

You can also enjoy modern dumplings such as Dango and Daifuku nearby Japanese-style confectionery store.

It implies various beliefs of people in the moon, and has long been hands down to the present.

だんご "Dango" (Baked Dumplings) 

大福 "Daihuku"

By Mieko

How about visiting Fukagawa Edo museum and enjoying the Moon-Viewing Festival? Please look at our website and book the Course B.