Mohri Garden: The Feudal Feoff of the Choshu Samurai

Why is it significant?

Stroll along the curved flagstone paths of Mohri Garden, where a crystal-clear spring-fed pond reflects the rippling glass facade of the TV Asahi headquarters.

Key Facts

Open the walk

Stroll along the curved flagstone paths of Mohri Garden, where a crystal-clear spring-fed pond reflects the rippling glass facade of the TV Asahi headquarters. Covering four thousand three hundred square meters, this exquisite kaiyushiki stroll garden preserves the historic landscape grounds of the Mohri samurai clan, the powerful feudal lords of Choshu domain who held a sprawling suburban estate here throughout the Edo period. Weeping cherry trees, delicate Japanese cypresses, and seasonal water lilies frame peaceful wooden viewing benches.

This serene hollow holds a dramatic and solemn history: in February seventeen zero-three, ten of the legendary Forty-Seven Ronin were remanded to the custody of the Mohri clan on these exact grounds. After successfully avenging their master Asano Naganori, the loyal samurai warriors were held here with great honor and dignity before carrying out their court-ordered ritual seppuku suicides beside the estate pond. The garden seamlessly preserves the historic samurai landscape within a buzzing high-tech media and entertainment metropolis.

When Mori Building developed the surrounding mega-complex in the late nineteen-nineties, landscape architects meticulously excavated the historic terrain, carefully preserving the ancient spring water flow, centuries-old ginkgo trees, and stone retaining dikes to create an enduring dialogue between feudal history and futuristic high-rise design. In early spring, cherry blossoms drift across the dark reflecting water, creating an enchanting carpet of floating flower petals.

In the center of the pond swim shimmering Nishikigoi carp descended from the Medaka fish flown into space aboard the American Space Shuttle Columbia in nineteen ninety-four with astronaut Chiaki Mukai, born from eggs that successfully hatched in zero gravity. Delicate stone bridges span quiet inlets where wild mallards nest amidst fragrant iris blossoms in late spring. Delicate stone bridges span quiet inlets where wild mallards nest amidst fragrant iris blossoms in late spring.

Walk south through the sunken pedestrian plaza and follow the sloping avenue into the vibrant village of Azabu-Juban.