Happo-en

• Japanese: 八芳園 (Happou-en)

The Happô-en (lit. "eight fragrances garden") is a Japanese walking garden in Tokyo freely accessible to the public but primarily used today as a wedding venue.

The garden was originally built by Ôkubo Hikozaemon, who was popularly believed to be one of the shogun's most trusted advisors. In the Meiji period, the garden passed into the possession of Shibusawa Kisaku (a cousin of entrepreneur Shibusawa Eiichi), and then in the early 20th century into the hands of business leader Kuhara Fusanosuke. The garden was renamed Happô-en in 1951.

The garden includes several tea houses, pavilions, and other traditional-style structures, as well as a number of historical stone lanterns and pagodas, and a collection of bonsai trees (including some which are over 500 years old).

References

• Pamphlets available on-site.