Kiyosumi Gardens

Kiyosumi Gardens, in Tokyo's Koto ward, count among the most refined strolling gardens in the city. The core of the site goes back to an Edo-period daimyo residence; its current form as a kaiyu-shiki pond garden was created from 1878 onward, when Iwasaki Yataro, founder of Mitsubishi, bought the plot as a place to rest and to entertain business contacts. The Iwasaki family had high-quality stones shipped in from all over Japan and placed throughout the garden; many still carry small plaques noting their place of origin. A path of stepping stones runs around the central pond just above the water, with carp and turtles within arm's reach. The garden has been listed as a Place of Scenic Beauty by Tokyo since 1979.