The mansion was built using stone from the Kibune area of Kyoto, transported specifically to Tokyo for the exterior cladding.
The architect, Josiah Conder, is widely considered the father of modern Japanese architecture and also designed the Rokumeikan.
The garden is one of the few surviving examples of a 'Taisho-era garden' that retains its original structural design.
The site uses a 'borrowed scenery' technique, incorporating the surrounding woods of the Musashino Plateau to make the garden appear larger than it is.
The Japanese garden area features a stone lantern, known as the 'Yukimi-doro', which is one of the largest of its type in Tokyo.
The rose garden was specifically added to accommodate the western-style mansion's aesthetic, a rarity for Japanese garden designs of that era.
The mansion is registered as a National Important Cultural Property of Japan.
Kyu-Furukawa Gardens features a distinct fusion of Taisho-era Western architecture and traditional Japanese landscaping. The site centers on a three-story Western-style mansion designed by British architect Josiah Conder, constructed from dark-grey stone in 1917. The garden layout utilizes the natural slope of the Musashino Plateau to transition from a formal rose garden to a deep, sunken hill-and-pond Japanese garden. The Japanese portion was designed by Kyoto-based gardener Jihei Ogawa VII and features a large pond shaped like the kanji for 'heart'. Visitors can view the mansion's exterior and interior, the latter requiring separate arrangements or guided tours. The rose garden contains over 100 varieties of flowers, which are the primary draw during spring and autumn. The estate served as the private residence of Toranosuke Furukawa, the third head of the Furukawa zaibatsu. The garden successfully maintains three distinct geographical aesthetics: Western-style, Japanese-style, and forest areas.
The stone balcony of the Western-style mansion looking down over the symmetrical rose garden.
Visit during the peak rose blooming seasons in mid-spring and mid-autumn to see the garden in its full color.
Wear comfortable walking shoes as the transition between the upper Western garden and lower Japanese garden involves stairs and slopes.
Check the official garden website for the status of mansion interior tours before arrival.
Do not attempt to enter the mansion garden area without a ticket, as the entry is separate from the public park entrance.
Closed during the year-end and New Year holidays; occasional temporary closures for building maintenance.
Refrain from using tripods or monopods in the gardens; stay on marked paths; smoking and drinking alcohol are prohibited.
