Tokugawaen, Nagoya

The Tokugawa Garden, located in Nagoya, is a renowned Japanese garden adjacent to the Tokugawa Art Museum. This historical garden traces its origins back to the early Edo period (1603-1867), when Tokugawa Mitsutomo (1625-1700), the second lord of the Owari branch of the Tokugawa clan, established the Ōzone Shimoyashiki residence. Following his death, the property was managed by his three retainers' families until it reverted to the Owari Tokugawa clan during the Meiji Restoration in 1867.

In 1931, Tokugawa Yoshichika (1886-1976), the 19th head of the Tokugawa family, donated 23,000 square meters of property, including family treasures, to Nagoya, leading to the creation of the Owari Tokugawa Reimeikai Foundation. The garden opened in 1932, and the art museum followed in 1935. During World War II, the garden was nearly destroyed, except for the Kuro-mon (Black Gate). Extensive renovations marked the museum's 50th anniversary in 1985. In 2004, the garden was rebuilt to reflect modern samurai culture with a stroll-style pond for serenity.

The Tokugawa Garden boasts a large central pond surrounded by waterfalls, promenades, tea houses, and bridges. It is renowned for its seasonal floral displays, including Japanese Apricot, peony, iris, and maple. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of other plants such as winter camellia, Japanese witch-hazel, peach trees, azalea, rhododendron, gardenia, and many more, creating a vibrant and colorful landscape throughout the year.

The entrance through the Kuro-mon gate, made of wood with a gable roof, offers a historical touch to the garden experience. Adjacent to the garden, the Hōsa Library houses valuable historical materials and documents related to the Owari Tokugawa family, further enriching the cultural significance of the site.