Symmetry and geometric patterns. These are characteristics of a French style garden. Here is a row Platanus trees and the geometric pattern of rose flower beds. Look around--are you able see a gate? Actually this is the former site of the “main entrance”. At present it is not being used, but if you were to enter from here rather than the Shinjuku gate, the impression is completely different. Similar to the Palace of Versailles it may surprise you to see the grey and plain gravel on the grounds.
This area is large even for Shinjuku Gyoen. What is the reason? This is because at first they planned to build a palace at this location, but it was never constructed due to financing problems. As for the rose flower beds, those are located where they planned to build a fountain. Try to imagine if there was a castle and a fountain. The landscape of Shinjuku Gyoen would be vastly different.
There is a person who they call the central figure of Shinjuku Gyoen. His name is Fukuba Hayato. In 1877 as a 20 year old, Hayato became a trainee at the Naito research center. At that time in Japan grapes had never been cultivated, but he was successful in raising grapes and using them for winemaking. From then he proceeded to study abroad for three years in Europe, learning both agriculture and landscaping. After his return home he began to grow a variety of plants both at his own home and in Shinjuku Gyoen.
At the of 35 he came to have a leading role in the garden, and by 1900 at 41 years old he officially became the general manager of Shinjuku Gyoen. All the while struggling with his official job of tending to the gardens of the imperial family, Fukuba found success growing melons strawberries, canning sardines and making jams.
In 1902, when he visited the Paris World Fair, he asked the landscape designer Henri Martine to plan a French garden for Shinjuku Gyoen. Based on the design of Martine, Fukuba completed the large garden in 1908. Fukuba is not a man you can come across in a textbook but his story is handed down within the park, as he was an essential piece of Shinjuku Gyoen’s story. You may even become a little jealous just hearing this story. You start to imagine this man, who loved his work so much he threw himself into it, challenges and all. I can’t help but envy his passion and dedication. I really wonder how this place was reflected in his own eye.