Valuable Stones in Kiyosumi Garden

Did you know that Kiyosumi garden has a big collection of rare, valuable stones? No other Japanese garden in Tokyo, or maybe in Japan, has such collection of stones of this size and variety.

It was made possible because the garden was built by Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of Mitsubishi-- one of the biggest conglomerate in Japan. As a millionaire in the beginning of modern Japan, Iwasaki collected famous stones and rocks from all over Japan and brought them to Kiyosumi, using his company's ships. They were placed by the pond, along the path, or used as stepping stones.

Next time you visit Kiyosumi garden, look for different colors, shapes, placements of various stones. When it rains, some of them look more beautiful.

Want to know more about these stones and Kiyosumi garden? We have free English guided tours for you!

Sado Akadama-ishi (red stone)

Perhaps the most rare, precious stone in this garden.
Used to be popular for rich Samurai gardens. This type of stones were yielded only in a limited area in Sado Island, Niigata. Unfortunately, almost all of them have had been mined out, and no more left to be yielded. That's why it is so valuable.

Soshu Manazuru-ishi

It took thousands of years for a stone to become a natural basin like this.

Kishu Ao-ishi (blue stone)

There  are a lot of blue stones in various part of the garden. They have different colours, shapes and surfaces.

This three Ao-ishi stones represent Buddhist statues. Small stones at the bottom represent water.

Stepping stones

Natural stones are placed as stepping stones to cross the pond, instead of bridges.

Sazare-ishi

Weathered stone covered with moss.





Kiyosumi Teien
Beautiful Japanese strolling garden in Koto-ku, Tokyo. Built in 1878 and contributed to the city of Tokyo in 1932. Appointed as Place of scenic beauty of Tokyo Prefecture in 1979.

Free tours : January - March

We have the following free volunteer-guided walking  tours in January, February and March.
Enjoy the friendly atmosphere of Edo Shitamachi (Tokyo’s old town) where the history and culture of Edo era (early 17th − mid 19th century) still lives. Friendly, English speaking locals are your  guides.


Fudomyoo, God of Fire


【Course A】
“See the difference between Shinto shrines & Buddhist temples.”
Tour dates & time : (Saturday)  January 29, February 26, March 26 / 13:00 – 15:00 (2 hours)
Visit: Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine and Fukagawa Fudoson Temple
Meet at: Torii gate of Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine (3 minute-walk from Monzen nakacho station on the Tozai Subway Line: see the map)
Tour fee: Free of charge


【Course B】

Kiyosumi Garden

“Learn about Basho, the founder of Haiku, the world’s shortest poems; See a Japanese Garden.”

Tour dates & time: (Saturday) January 29, February 26, March 26 / 13:00 – 15:00 (2 hours)
Visit: Basho Kinen-kan Memorial Museum and Kiyosumi Garden Park
Meet at: Basho Memorial Museum (7minute-walk from Morishita Station on Toei Shinjuku-Line or Oedo Subway Lines : see the map)
Admission: 100 yen for Basho Memorial Museum and 150 yen for Kiyosumi Garden (pay at the gate)
Tour fee: Free of charge

【Course C】 — Customized course
Please feel free to consult us concerning other courses and their dates as well.

Examples:
●Fukagawa Edo Museum
Here, you can get a feel for what life was like in Tokyo’s old town in Edo period.
●Sumo stables
You may have a rare opportunity to watch a powerful Sumo wrestlers’ morning training session.
●Edo wood carving
You can admire a skilled artisan’s precious traditional crafts.


For application: Please select your desired course and e-mail to  <koto.guide (a) gmail.com> -- replace (a) with @--  (subject: Koto City Walking Tour) with your name, gender, nationality, number of participants and your contact number. We will reply to your e-mail as soon as possible.

KEV Year-end party 2010 !!

We had  our year end party at Monzen-nakacho.　It was much fun to have a party with KEV members ! Two gentlemen at front are our teachers.  

Basho's haiku travels through time and spaces, Mabesoone says

Basho statue looking over Sumida river

Basho was a traveller and a time-traveller at the same time, Seegan　Mabesoone says.

Mabesoone is a French haiku poet living in Japan, specializing in Matsuo Basho and Kobayashi Issa. Last weekend, he had a lecture at Basho Museum in Koto-ku, Tokyo.

In Basho's haiku or haikai, Mabesoone says, both passage of time and transition of spaces are often represented in one phrase. Basho walked through space to trace back through history.
There also are implications in his haiku that a travel eventually goes back to what it starts, he says.

According to Mabesoone, it's in contrast with Western culture, which thinks time is something straightforward. But he found a striking similarity in an Arabian Nights story. He says both imply reincarnations.

I know my explanation is not enough at all, but Mr. Mabesoone's lecture was very very interesting. I think his books are must-read for Basho fans.

Matsuo Basho (1644 - 1694) :  One of the most famous haiku or haikai poets in Japan, known for establishing haiku as a major literature genre. He travelled around Japan many times to make lots of great works.
We have a free English guided tour to Basho Museum and Basho statue.
Click here for detail.

Inside of Fukagawa Fudodo, 25th Sept 2010

We come into Fukagawa Fudodo temple. In bright and gleamy room we found many gold statues of Buddha.

In front of Inari, 25th Sept 2010

This is a photo took in front of Happy Fortune Inari... Cheese  !!

Inside of Fukagawa Fudodo, 25th Sept 2010

These are the statues of various forms of Buddha.