Japanese Garden – Butchart Gardens History

Japanese Garden

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The Japanese Garden at Butchart Gardens was designed by Isaburo Kishida circa 1910. The photo below shows the site of the Japanese Garden circa 1904, when the Vancouver Portland Cement Company first acquired the property.

The site of the Japanese Garden, looking north west toward Butchart Cove, circa 1904 (City of Victoria Archives photo M-05823)

In 1909 or 1910, the Butcharts retained Isaburo Kishida, a Japanese gardener from Yokohama, to design a Japanese Garden on the grounds to the north of their house, Benvenuto, at what is now Butchart Gardens.

Isaburo Kishida had been brought to Victoria from Yokohama by his son, Joe Kishida, and Joe Kishida’s business partner, Harry Tanaka, who wanted to build a Japanese Tea Garden at Gorge Park in Victoria suburb of Esquimalt.

Isaburo Kishida (seated third from right) with his son Joe Kishida and his business partner Harry Takata, at the Japanese Tea Garden, Gorge Park, circa 1907 Photo: Esquimalt Archives) — Isaburo Kishida (seated third from right) with his son Joe Kishida and his business partner Harry Takata, at the Japanese Tea Garden, Gorge Park, circa 1907 Photo: Esquimalt Municipal Archives)

After installing the Japanese Tea Garden at Gorge Park, Isaburo Kishida came to the attention of several wealthy citizens around Victoria, who hired Isaburo Kishida to design Japanese gardens on their properties. These families included the Dunmuirs, of Hatley Castle, and the Barnards, whose home, Clovelly, stood on the Vic West waterfront on what is now Barnard Avenue. The Barnards were friends of the Butcharts and I’m speculating that Isaburo Kishida installed the Japanese Garden at the Barnard estate, Clovelly, before being retained by the Butcharts to design their Japanese Garden.

The photo below shows the Japanese Garden circa 1910, likely at the time it was being designed and installed by Isaburo Kishida.

The Japanese Gardens in the early stages of its development, circa 1910, likely during its installation by Isaburo Kishida. (City of Victoria Archives M05822)

Postcard of Butchart Cove and Saanich Inlet, viewed from the Japanese Garden, circa 1920 (Author's collection) — Postcard of Butchart Cove and Saanich Inlet, viewed from the Japanese Garden, circa 1920 (Author’s collection)

Postcard showing the Japanese Garden, , circa 1930's. (Author's collection) — Postcard showing the Japanese Garden, , circa 1930’s. (Author’s collection)

Postcard showing the Japanese Garden, , circa 1960's. (Author's collection) — Postcard showing the Japanese Garden, , circa 1960’s. (Author’s collection)

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