The Garden Where Every Stone Tells a Story

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Why were the stones along a riverbank so captivating to us as children? Like the lyrics of Japan's national anthem, "Until small pebbles grow into mighty rocks," perhaps we sensed, even then, that a single stone was part of something older and larger than ourselves.

That same quiet mystery and enduring presence is reflected in the Japanese garden.

Kiyosumi Garden, located in Tokyo's Koto Ward, has been designated a scenic spot by the city. It was originally created as a feudal lord's garden during the Edo period. Later, it was purchased by Iwasaki Yataro, founder of the Mitsubishi conglomerate, who gathered stones from across Japan and placed them throughout the garden.

On April 5, I joined a tour of Kiyosumi Garden hosted by the Japan Gardeners' Network (JGN) to explore the allure of stones with fellow enthusiasts.

Though Tokyo was in peak sakura season, it was the stones that stole the spotlight. Across the large pond, a dry waterfall made of arranged stones rose up, backed by a man-made hill modeled after Mount Fuji. Its foothills spread gently in the background, creating a quintessentially Japanese scene — breathtaking in its quiet beauty.

Guided by a Stonemason's Eye

"Every stone arrangement has a front side. Please try to find the best angle," said 74-year-old stonemason and JGN board member Yasutaka Takasaki. His tours are popular—21 people joined, despite a 15-person limit.

As we walked along the pond's edge, the stone arrangements revealed themselves from new perspectives with every step. Framed through pine branches, the view resembled a delicate landscape painting. At other times, the stones appeared bold and sculptural. Each view offered a different expression.

When Iwasaki acquired the then-neglected garden in 1878, he took a personal interest in its landscaping. He had famous stones shipped via Mitsubishi steamships from all over the country. There were wave-worn coastal stones from Izu, red jade from Sado Island, and deep green stones from Iyo—each with distinct colors and textures.

*Yasutaka Takasaki during a tour of the Reiganji Temple garden. (©Sankei by Akiko Shigematsu)*

"Because Japan sits on tectonic fault lines, many stones here have been transformed by intense heat and pressure," Takasaki explained. It's a geological hallmark of an earthquake-prone country.

"Stones exist everywhere in the world. But transporting them across long distances to create miniature landscapes that replicate scenic views — this is something uniquely Japanese," he added. "Standing here, you might feel like you're gazing at Mount Fuji or walking the Tokaido Road. It's like a miniature theme park."

Stones as Storytellers

As we stepped across a stream on blue stones laid out like stepping stones, one participant remarked, "This reminds me of the rock pavements in Chichibu." The participant, Atsuko Eto, is a graduate of an online landscape design course at Kyoto University of the Arts, taught by Takasaki.

With garden designer Hiromi Ono, Eto has been organizing "Stone Journeys" tours for the past four years — visiting quarries and stone-based architecture across Japan. Their destinations have included the Oya stone quarries in Tochigi, Komatsu stone in Kanagawa, and Boso stone in Chiba.

"Don't you get curious about where a stone was born?" Eto asked. "There are fewer active quarries these days, but many have been repurposed for tourism. I highly recommend visiting them." For many, an interest in stones naturally leads to discovering their places of origin.

That same day, we visited nearby Reiganji Temple, where we had special access to a garden designed by Takasaki himself. It was a fulfilling 5.5-hour mini tour, which included a lecture and lunch — all for ¥3,500 JPY (about $25 USD) per person.

A Stone, A World

When asked about the timeless appeal of stones, Takasaki replied, "It's their fractal nature — the geometric self-similarity."

"Whether it's a single stone or a grouping, each one creates its own world. It's the same with bonsai and gardens. When you gaze at a stone, you feel a connection to nature — and even to the universe."

A vast worldview held in a single pebble. Perhaps children who pick up stones feel this intuitively.

Miniature Gardens

"How about having stones in households? We've even held workshops where people create miniature gardens using stones they found. You don't need a yard — just a desk will do."

The Japan Gardeners' Network, led by Professor Emeritus Hideaki Ohba of the University of Tokyo, has around 300 members ranging from researchers to hobbyists. They promote social contribution through horticulture. While this particular event focused on stones, the group organizes a wide variety of gardening-related events and lectures and runs an informational site called "Gadenet."

Gardening not only advances Japan's rich garden culture but also brings everyday greenery and healing into our lives. As spring turns to summer, it might be the perfect time to start in our own small ways.