“Special National Historic Site”. This inscription hints at the rich tapestry of history woven around the \u65e7\u6d5c\u96e2\u5bae\u5ead\u5712 Stele.
Let’s delve into the story of this metropolitan garden. The \u65e7\u6d5c\u96e2\u5bae\u5ead\u5712 Stele stands as a silent witness to centuries of transformation. This area was once a villa for the powerful Tokugawa family in the 17th century.
Imagine Tokugawa Tsunashige. He was the younger brother of Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu. He received permission to reclaim land from Edo Bay in 1654. On this land, he built his villa and garden. His son Tokugawa Ienobu inherited the property. Later he became the 6th Tokugawa Shogun.
For generations, the Tokugawa shoguns used this garden as a secondary residence. From Tokugawa Ienari through Tokugawa Ieyoshi, it became a place for falconry. The main palace burned down in 1724. It was never rebuilt.
A gift from Vietnam arrived in 1729. It was an elephant for the shogun. For twelve years, this elephant lived on these grounds. During the Bakumatsu period, the site was a training ground for the Tokugawa Navy. In 1867, a western-style stone building was erected. It served as accommodation for foreign diplomats visiting Edo.
After the Meiji Restoration, Emperor Meiji renamed the site “Hama Palace”. It continued as a state guest house until the Rokumeikan was built. Crown Prince Frederick William of Germany visited in 1879. Former US President Ulysses Grant also stayed here for a month. It was during his visit to Japan. The state guest house was torn down in 1889.
Disaster struck in 1923. The Great Kanto earthquake caused fires. The gardens burned again in 1945 during the Tokyo air raid.
A new chapter began in November 1945. The Imperial Household Agency transferred the \u65e7\u6d5c\u96e2\u5bae\u5ead\u5712 to Tokyo Metropolis. In April 1946, it opened as a public garden.
The \u65e7\u6d5c\u96e2\u5bae\u5ead\u5712 Stele marks a significant designation. In 1952, it became a Special National Historic Site. It is also a Special National Place of Scenic Beauty. Teahouses have been rebuilt since 2010.
The gardens feature Shioiri-no-ike. This is a tidal pond that changes with the sea’s ebb and flow. A teahouse sits in the pond’s center. Bridges connect it to the land. Visitors enjoy matcha and sweets there in the tea-ceremony style. The garden also has a peony garden. There is also a plum tree grove. Flowers bloom here in every season.
Today, the \u65e7\u6d5c\u96e2\u5bae\u5ead\u5712 Stele invites us to reflect. It marks a place where feudal lords strolled. Diplomats once gathered. Now, locals and tourists find beauty. This Stele stands as a reminder. It represents resilience and the enduring power of nature and history in Tokyo.