Tokonoma Garden - Sanumaya no Niwa (砂沼や の 庭) - GardensDB Browse [ ![](/images/leaf_icon.svg) Gardens**DB** ](https://gardensdb.com) [ Gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) [ Shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) [ Studios ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) [ People ](https://gardensdb.com/people) [ Search gardens, designers, shows… ](https://gardensdb.com/search) [ Login ](https://gardensdb.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fgardensdb.com%2Fgardens%2Ftokonoma-garden-sanumaya-no-niwa) [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) [ ](https://gardensdb.com/search) Discover - [ Home ](https://gardensdb.com) - [ Gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ Shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) - [ Events ](https://gardensdb.com/events) - [ 360° tours ](https://gardensdb.com/360-tours) - [ Trails ](https://gardensdb.com/trails) People & studios - [ People ](https://gardensdb.com/people) - [ Studios ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) - [ Books ](https://gardensdb.com/books) - [ Jobs ](https://gardensdb.com/jobs) Organisations - [ Sponsors ](https://gardensdb.com/sponsors) - [ Charity & non-profits ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) - [ Collectives ](https://gardensdb.com/collectives) - [ Companies ](https://gardensdb.com/companies) - [ Education ](https://gardensdb.com/education-institutions) - [ Nurseries ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries) Account - [ Login ](https://gardensdb.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fgardensdb.com%2Fgardens%2Ftokonoma-garden-sanumaya-no-niwa) - [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) Discover - [ Home Today's highlights ](https://gardensdb.com) - [ Gardens Show gardens, catalogued ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ Shows Horticultural shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) - [ Events Festivals, courses & open days ](https://gardensdb.com/events) - [ 360° tours Step inside, long after the show packs up ](https://gardensdb.com/360-tours) - [ Trails Curated routes through the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/trails) People & studios - [ People Designers, judges, growers ](https://gardensdb.com/people) - [ Studios Design practices ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) - [ Books Recommended reading ](https://gardensdb.com/books) - [ Jobs Roles in the industry ](https://gardensdb.com/jobs) Organisations - [ Sponsors Organisations that back the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/sponsors) - [ Charity & non-profits Causes behind the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) - [ Collectives Groups & community projects ](https://gardensdb.com/collectives) - [ Companies Suppliers & contractors ](https://gardensdb.com/companies) - [ Education Schools, colleges & universities ](https://gardensdb.com/education-institutions) - [ Nurseries Plant suppliers & growers ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries) [ Submit a garden ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens/submit) [ About GardensDB ](https://gardensdb.com/help) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/gardens/tokonoma-garden-sanumaya-no-niwa/primary_image.webp?v=63e36d93-af05-4188-96d6-b30636b0967f) [Gardens](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) / [ RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 ](https://gardensdb.com/shows/rhs-chelsea-flower-show-2026) Show Garden ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-silver-gilt-medal/icon.webp) Silver Gilt Medal Tokonoma Garden - Sanumaya no Niwa (砂沼や の 庭) ============================================== Designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara At a glance Show RHS Chelsea Flower Show Year 2026 Category Show Garden 360° Tour Plant List Large Show Garden Photo: GardensDB About this garden The story ----------- The Tokonoma Garden - Sanumaya no Niwa, revives the tradition of viewing a beautiful landscape from the tokonoma, a raised alcove once central to Japanese family life. While visitors cannot enter the room itself, they will experience the tranquil view from outside, where stone, moss, water, and seasonal plants create a contemplative scene. The theme is harmony and connection, inspired by the designer's childhood memories of the Sanumaya drapery store, where his large family gathered. In the past, the tokonoma served as a place where family meals, conversations, and hospitality unfolded while enjoying views of the garden beyond. Today, such rooms are rare, and the designer seeks to reimagine this cultural tradition for modern times. The garden embodies both personal memory and universal values of family togetherness and community, offering visitors a space to pause, reflect, and appreciate the beauty of nature. The garden includes a traditional stone lantern, which conveys a sense of weight and permanence. An unusual feature is the garden gate, crafted with distinctive form and artistry. As visitors pass through it, the gate heightens their sense of anticipation for the special world ahead - the unfolding garden scenery and the architectural features that await beyond. The garden will be relocated in the UK - plans will be announced at a later date. Award Recognition ------------- - ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-silver-gilt-medal/icon.webp) Silver Gilt Medal RHS The people behind it Designer ---------- - [ ![Kazuyuki Ishihara](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/kazuyuki-ishihara/profile_photo.jpg) Kazuyuki Ishihara Designer Ishihara ](https://gardensdb.com/people/kazuyuki-ishihara) Step inside 360° tour ----------- Loading panorama... Unable to load panorama tour. Click and drag to look around, click hotspots or arrows to move. Scroll to zoom. Tap and drag to look around, tap hotspots or arrows to move. Pinch to zoom. Photography Gallery --------- ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/0d24dcb0-5208-415d-afc8-ce6b6301f82d/conversions/IMG_2491-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/e0ffbf2a-906c-4465-95ef-5b0309a2ef7e/conversions/IMG_2492-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/f692afaa-0592-456b-b64e-2ce5e9254dac/conversions/IMG_2493-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/13faba03-20a0-4a82-8958-1e8418d2c7e2/conversions/IMG_2496-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/d6997aca-91f5-4ed2-bd3c-b8f82d54a27d/conversions/IMG_2495-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/20790f89-0123-4e31-9b69-9222238c7011/conversions/IMG_2497-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/41b251e5-cd41-4419-9457-56b3d0ab887e/conversions/IMG_2500-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/29f6098d-b2d5-403b-9465-e1091cb53c59/conversions/IMG_2499-gallery.webp) 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Planting Plant list ------------ Click on a plant to enlarge or purchase. ### Key Plants 1 ![Farfugium japonicum](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/e85299af-a851-4ee1-b4d7-b7bcd1d1578c/conversions/farfugium-japonicum-thumbnail.webp) Farfugium japonicum ![]() Buy this plant → Brought to life by Organisations --------------- ### Landscaper 1 - [ D Daikanyama Kadan ](https://gardensdb.com/companies/daikanyama-kadan) ### Plant Providers 2 - [ ![Majestic Trees](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/nurseries/majestic-trees/logo.webp) Majestic Trees ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries/majestic-trees) - [ ![Hortus Loci](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/nurseries/hortus-loci/logo.webp) Hortus Loci ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries/hortus-loci) ### Sponsors 3 - [ ![Calmic Japan](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/companies/calmic-japan/logo.webp) Calmic Japan ](https://gardensdb.com/companies/calmic-japan) - [ ![HB-101](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/companies/hb-101/logo.webp) HB-101 ](https://gardensdb.com/companies/hb-101) - [ ![Glion Group](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/companies/glion-group/logo.webp) Glion Group ](https://gardensdb.com/companies/glion-group) ![](/images/leaf_icon.svg) Gardens**DB** The world's largest collection of show gardens online, kept free, kept current, and shaped by the community that uses it. 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