AGHS Sydney - Meiji Shrine Outer Garden Tokyo

Central Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine Outer Garden is considered a milestone achievement in Japanese urban and landscape planning – its answer to other large urban parks such as Carlton Gardens in Melbourne or Washington DC’s National Mall. It commemorates Emperor Meiji who oversaw Japan’s modernization in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.

The 1918-26 garden is the largest surviving pre-World War 2 purpose-planned urban park by a team of all-Japanese professionals and one of two examples using neo-Baroque planning principles. Eminent scholars and designers studied and adopted Western landscaping principles, informing its design and planning. Major incursions include 1945 firebombing, 1958-64 Tokyo Olympic Stadium, various sports facilities and car parks, tree removals and redeveloped outer garden as sports-focused area including 2020 Olympic Stadium, removing the 1964 stadium, over 500 trees, and obscuring the overall landscape.

Hisashi Nakahara has wide experience working in building projects across Sydney and Melbourne, with particular focus in heritage conservation. He has a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Melbourne, and a Master of Heritage Conservation degree from the University of Sydney. He is currently a Heritage Consultant at Edwards Heritage Consultants in Sydney and previously provided drafting and design services in Traditional Restoration Company. Hisashi is passionate about the historic built environment and actively participates in professional development within the industry, being an active member of Australia ICOMOS*.

He was the author of a 2024 heritage assessment report in response to redevelopment proposals for Meiji Shrine Outer Garden. And a ‘heritage alert’ on ICOMOS’ website on this.