Prince Arisugawa Memorial Park

At the park pond

Park plan

Prince Arisugawa

The Prince Arisugawa Memorial Park ( Japanese 有栖川宮記念公園 , Arisugawa-no-miya kinen kōen ) in the Minami- Azabu district of Tokyo's Minato district was created by converting the previous site of Prince Arisugawa Takehito (1862-1913) in 1934. The Minato District has been responsible for the park since 1975 .

Overview

The south-west sloping park area on the edge of the Azabu Heights was used by the Nambu clan ( Morioka ) as an outside residence ( shimoyashiki ) in the Edo period . From 1896 the area was used by Prince Arisugawa Takehito, half-brother and successor of Prince Arisugawa Taruhito . Since his children died early, the property came to the Takamatsu imperial family. Prince Takamatsu Nobuhito (1905-1987), the third son of Emperor Taishō , gave about half of the site (36,325 m²) on January 5, 1934 in memory of Prince Arisugawa of the city, who immediately set up the park for visitors and opened it on Opened November 17, 1934.

Later the northeast half was also included. Since then, the sports facilities there (tennis courts and a baseball field) have been part of the park. The large central library of Tokyo Prefecture is also located in the park. With this part, which is also covered with trees, the total area is 67,131 m².

The park

The park preserves the idea of the original changing garden from the Edo period. In the lower part it has an arched pond that is fed by two watercourses. Above all, the deeply cut western watercourse, which is crossed by a small bridge, gives the park its special character.

When the park was redesigned in the 20th century, many flowering shrubs came to the park. In addition to maples, pines, cherries and plums, azaleas and dogwoods can also be found in the park. Irises bloom by the pond and numerous birds can be seen on the water.

In the park there is an equestrian statue of Prince Arisugawa Taruhito, who was moved here from the premises of the Japanese General Staff in 1962 .

Remarks

↑ The main residence of the Nambu was on the eastern edge of today's Hibiya Park .
↑ The as Nambu-zaka named Hangweg on the east side is reminiscent of that time.