Beautiful Roses at

the Tsuzuki Gakuen English Garden

Visiting Dazaifu this fall? Hoping to take in some autumn leaves?

Well, you are in for a pleasant surprise at the Tsuzuki Gakuen English

Garden, where the roses are in full bloom.

Dazaifu Tenmangu, Fukuoka’s top tourist attraction, is renowned for its Tenman shrine, Plum Blossoms, and the Kyushu National Museum. However, this area is also popular with local visitors for a wholly unexpected natural attraction that lies nearby.

Enshrined in the campus of the Japan University of Economics, the Tsuzuki Gakuen English Garden is famous in Fukuoka for its vast collection of roses, which come into bloom twice a year. It holds a rather unique and special appeal for Japanese visitors, who arrive by the coach-load in May and June to relax in the garden’s rainbow of colours and perfume.

When Japan Local Guide visited in November, it was truly an idyllic scene, distant from the hustle and bustle of the city. Many visitors were taking photos, painting watercolors … and one was inspired to sing! A visit to this garden, in the cooler autumn months, will certainly do the homesick expat heart good.

Japan Local Guide was delighted to have the opportunity to interview the Head Gardener, Giulio Veronese, who is a professional garden designer and horticulturist with experience in Italy and England (including Cambridge University Botanic Garden, no less!) He gave us warm Italian welcome and a private tour around the Garden:

JLC: How and why is there an English Garden in Dazaifu? Veronese: “The story here begins twenty years ago, when Chancellor Kimiko Tsuzuki, of the Tsuzuki Educational Group, had the vision of an English Garden for the relaxation, enjoyment and education of their students and the public. The Garden officially opened on 2nd January 1998.”

JLC: Is it an authentic English Garden? Veronese: “Oh yes. The design was commissioned to Peter Thurman, an established garden designer who trained at the world-famous Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Works began on site in June 1997, by the renowned landscape company Kashii Zouen Ltd, headed by Mutsuo Nagamatsu. Subsequently, three English landscape experts were appointed to assist in the design and implementation of the garden, enhancing the English character.”

“Since then, the combination of English and Japanese professionalism has been a great success and the interchange between the two cultures has been a fundamental component of the project. I was thereby called and asked to maintain and develop the national and international reputation of the Tsuzuki Gakuen English Garden. This is a truly wonderful challenge for me.”

JLC: What are the garden’s unique attractions?

Veronese: “There’s plenty to see. The site measures approximately 11 acres, dominated by a central lake that is surrounded by low, steeply-sided hills, clothed in a combination of cultivated and native trees and shrubs.”

“The roses are the most important collection of the Garden. We manage an impressive variety of types: shrubs and climbing, modern and old, English and Japanese selections. It is always a privilege for a gardener to work with roses. I think I am very lucky indeed.”

JLC: When is the best time of year to visit?

Veronese: “The highlights of late spring are obviously the roses, but if you come earlier in the year there will be many native spring wildflowers and cultivated bulbs.”

“May is certainly the peak-season for rose-viewing visitors of all ages, and for photographers as well.

“Our visitors also love the swans. They are a rarity in Japan, but a common sight of the traditional English landscape gardens.”

“Every May the eggs hatch and the cygnets instantly become the main attraction, almost outshining the roses.”

“Also, later in autumn, the warm tones of leaves and berries will warm up your feelings, together with the second flowering flush of roses, which are at their peak in November. There is so much to discover here, all year around. So, you definitely have to come back again!”

JLC will certainly take the Head Gardener’s advice and return often. It was a pleasure to be immersed in nature, while learning about the Garden and its plants.

YOUR LOCAL GUIDE RECOMENDS …

Suitable for all ages, Tsuzuki School’s English Garden is a great place to

relax and enjoy an abundance of flowers.

Great place to spend an afternoon with the kids in Dazaifu.

Superb photography location in northern Kyushu.

Dazaifu’s most beautiful English Garden comes highly recommended, as does

the English Afternoon Tea experience at the nearby Rose Café.

VISITOR INFORMATION

Open 7 days: 9:00 to 16:30 (Gates close at 17:00)

Admission: FREE

Parking: YES

Nearest station: 西鉄五条駅 Nishitetsu Gojo [10 minute walk]

Nearest Bus stop: 日本経済大学前（バス) Nihon Keizai Daigaku-mae(bus)

[stops outside campus main gate]

Google Directions (English)

Google Directions (Japanese)

ADDRESS

Gojo 3-11-25, Dazaifu, Fukuoka-ken, 〒818-0197, Japan.

日本、〒818-0125 福岡県太宰府市五条３丁目３−１１−２５

FIND IT

The English Garden is a 5 min walk from the main gate. For a walking map (in

Japanese) with photo directions click here.

ASK FOR

日本経済大学 イングリッシュ・ガーデン [Nipponkeizai daigaku ingurisshu

gāden OR Daiichi ingurisshu gāden]

GOOD TO KNOW

The Japan University of Economics (日本経済大学Nihon Keizai Daigaku)

abbreviated as Nikkeidai (日経大Nikkeidai) is actually known locally as

“Daiichi” (if you are asking for directions).

OTHER AMENITIES

For Afternoon Tea Reservations (all year round) call : 092-925-2827

The Rose Cafeteria also serves lunch at reasonable student-friendly prices

(the curry is exceptionally large and very good!)

May to mid-June only: a Refreshments Stall at the English Garden gates sells

ice-cream, soft drinks, coffee etc. ( 10:00–15:00).

FURTHER DETAILS

FACEBOOK

WEBSITE (in Japanese)

イングリッシュガーデンとは