Hidden Wonders | Tonogayato Gardens: Hillside Beauty in the Heart of Kokubunji

Hidden Wonders: Tonogayato Gardens

Hillside Beauty in the Heart of Kokubunji

Tonogayato Gardens is a serene hillside sanctuary that fuses Meiji-era refinement with natural elegance, offering visitors a tranquil escape throughout the seasons. Located just a brief train ride from central Tokyo, this verdant refuge rests quietly in Kokubunji, a suburb blessed with lush scenery.

The garden cleverly uses the Musashino Plateau’s contours to shape a layered landscape of lawns, groves, and gentle streams. In autumn, its foliage blazes with vibrant color, earning official recognition as a Place of Scenic Beauty.

Despite its charm and close proximity—only a two-minute walk from Kokubunji Station—Tonogayato Gardens remains relatively undiscovered, allowing guests to enjoy peaceful walks and expansive views in remarkable solitude.

A Garden with History and Artistry

Visitors immerse themselves in Japanese garden design and quiet history hidden within Tokyo’s western edges. The story of Tonogayato begins in the early 20th century, when it was created between 1913 and 1915 as part of the private villa of railway executive Eguchi Teijo.

Later, in 1929, the property was purchased by Koyata Iwasaki, a member of the Mitsubishi founding family, who enhanced and broadened the garden into a circular strolling landscape. By 1934, he had added the Koyo-tei tea house, giving the garden even more cultural and aesthetic depth.

The Iwasaki family enjoyed Tonogayato as a green refuge from city life, cherishing its restorative calm and natural artistry.

However, by the 1970s, urban expansion threatened the estate’s existence, marking a turning point in its preservation story.

Author’s Summary

Tonogayato Gardens offers a rare blend of historical charm and natural beauty, a peaceful haven preserving the artistry of Japan’s garden tradition amid metropolitan Tokyo.

JAPAN Forward — 2025-11-08