Tonogayato Gardens (Zuigien)The Tonogayato Gardens is a “strolling forest and spring garden” that skillfully incorporates the natural topography of Musashino into its landscape. Originally created as a villa for Sadae Eguchi (who later became Vice President of the South Manchurian Railway Company) between 1913 and 1915, it then became the secondary residence for the Iwasaki family, owner of the Mitsubishi zaibatsu, in 1929. It was acquired by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 1974, after which it was renovated and opened to the public as a fee-based garden. The garden was designated a National Cultural Property (Place of Scenic Beauty) of Japan in September 2011.The spring water that feeds the pond is one of the water sources renowned in antiquity as the crystal-clear waters of -Jirobenten. It flows into the pond at a rate of 37 liters per minute.Coordinated by Sanae TanahashiKokubunji, located at the geographical center of Tokyo, is where Rion was born and grew up. What kind of a town is it?In this corner, Rion staff members visit the people and places in the town and report on their charm.This time, we visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Tonogayato Gardens (Zuigien), located just a short walk from Kokubunji Station.We asked the people who manage the garden about the unique aspects of Kokubunji’s scenery found there.Tokyo Metropolitan Park AssociationTwo staff members from the Tonogayato Gardens Service Center:On the right is Chief Director of Tonogayato Gardens Office Toshio Sakuraoka, on the left is Deputy Chief Director of Tonogayato Gardens Office Takanari Sato. They oversee the maintenance and preservation of the garden and plan and host events to encourage people to visit.The Tonogayato Gardens holds a special place in history as a metropolitan garden preserved by the efforts of its citizens. In the 1960s, as urban development progressed around the south exit of Kokubunji Station, awareness of its rich natural environment was growing among local residents. The preservation efforts of the garden began, driven by a strong public desire to keep the original landscape of Musashino for future generations. Today, it is cherished as a place of relaxation for citizens. The garden is filled with the diverse vegetation shaped by the unique topography of the Kokubunji Cliff line, where flowers bloom magnificently season by season. Amid the chirping of wild birds, the sound of waterfalls, and the clicking of the shishi-odoshi (deer deterrent), plus the rustling of the bamboo grove, I felt at peace in a tranquil space where time flows slowly by.(Yuki Okabe, Rion Technical Journal Staff)OUR FAVORITE TOWN, KOKUBUNJI— RION STAFF SHOW YOU AROUND18A garden that incorporates the terrain and natural beauty of KokubunjiWhen asked about what he would particularly recommend about this garden, Mr. Sato, the Deputy Chief Director, responds, “My recommendation is to view the garden during the fall season, when the 200 Japanese maple trees turn color. In Tonogayato Gardens, there’s a tea ceremony house called the Kouyou-tei. In most gardens, you’ll look up at the autumn leaves above your head, but since Kouyou-tei is built on a cliff, you can see the autumn foliage spread out right in front of your eyes.”The Tonogayato Gardens embodies the natural charm of Kokubunji. A visit to this garden shows After interviewThe Tonogayato Gardens is located just a two-minute walk from the south exit of Kokubunji Station. It was recognized for its artistic value, achieved by its charming landscaping that incorporates the natural terrain of the area, and designated as a National Cultural Property in 2011.“The greatest feature of Tonogayato Gardens is its artistic use of the unique topography of the Kokubunji Cliff line, which creates a garden reflecting both Japanese and Western cultures,” explains Mr. Sakuraoka, the Chief Director of the Tonogayato Gardens Office. He describes how the garden naturally integrates changing landscapes based on the difference in elevation, from the bright lawn garden on the top of the cliff, to the gently sloping wooded area with various trees and bamboo groves, and down to the waterfall set on the steep slope and the pond below. “This is where the spring water emerges,” Mr. Sakuraoka points out while taking a stroll through the garden, adding “As with the Masugata Pond Springs behind the Rion building, an abundance of spring water is one of the major geologic features of the Kokubunji Cliff line. The water for the garden’s waterfall and pond comes from this spring.”Another major feature of the garden is how it preserves vegetation unique to the Musashino plateau. The garden features numerous plants growing that are native to this region. “We carefully manage things like the height of the bamboo grass on the slopes to try to reproduce a view that will evoke the original landscape as much as possible.”us why our ancestors were so drawn to Kokubunji.T his Issue’s T he m e[T he Charms of Nature]KOKUBUNJIRion
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