Tokugawaen Walls

Walls that Change Their Finish along the Slope

The Tokugawaen Walls (徳川園塀) is the walls along the west side of the estate of around 1900 in Tokugawacho, Higashi Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on October 7, 2014 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records timber walls 84 metres long in all, with tiled copings and a wicket door, altered in 2004; registration number 23-0405.

Walls Finished Differently along the Way

The walls of Tokugawaen mark the west edge of the estate (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The stretch on either side of the Black Gate as far as the west entrance of Sozanso has tiled copings, batten-and-board cladding and plaster.

The stretch that steps down the slope on the west side of the garden in three-bay sections is finished differently, with vertical boards outside and cedar bark held by split bamboo inside (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Why It Was Registered

The Agency registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.

What to Look For

Look for the stepped stretch on the slope and the different finishes inside and out (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Visiting

It is owned by Nagoya City (Agency for Cultural Affairs). According to the Aichi Prefecture tourism site, Tokugawaen is open from 9:30 to 17:30 (last entry 17:00), closed on Mondays (open on public holidays) and from December 29 to January 1; admission is 300 yen for adults and free for junior high school students and younger; tel. 052-935-8988. The six registered structures are introduced together on the Tokugawaen page.