Aoyama Cemetery

Aoyama Cemetery (青山霊園, Aoyama reien) is a cemetery in Aoyama, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. The cemetery is also famous for its cherry blossoms, and at the season of hanami, which many people would visit.

History

The cemetery was originally the land of the Aoyama family of the Gujō clan (now Gujō, Gifu) in the province of Mino (now Gifu). Japan's first public cemetery was opened in 1874, and in the Meiji era was the main locations of foreigners' graves.

The cemetery has an area of 263,564 m2.

Japanese Section

The Japanese section includes the graves of many notable Japanese, including:

  • Amino Kiku
  • Gotō Shōjirō
  • Ichikawa Danjūrō IX
  • Ichikawa Danjūrō XI
  • Kitasato Shibasaburō
  • Nakae Chōmin
  • Nogi Maresuke
  • Ōkubo Toshimichi
  • Otoya Yamaguchi
  • Sasaki Takayuki
  • Shiga Naoya
  • Nishi Takeichi
  • Osachi Hamaguchi

Tateyama Branch

The cemetery also has a Tateyama branch, where Nagata Tetsuzan, Kimura Heitarō, and Sagara Sōzō are buried.

Grave of Hachikō

One of the cemetery's most famous graves is that of Hachikō, the faithful and dutiful dog whose statue adorns Shibuya Station, was buried alongside with his two owners, Hidesaburō Ueno and Yaeko Sakano.

Foreign Section

The cemetery includes a gaikokujin bochi (foreign cemetery), one of the few such plots in Tokyo. Many of the graves are of foreign experts who came to Japan at the end of the 19th century, as part of the Meiji Government's drive for modernisation. Although some of the graves were threatened with removal in 2005 due to unpaid annual fees, the Foreign Section was awarded special protection in 2007. A plaque on the site recognises the men and women who contributed to Japan's modernization.

Some of the noted foreigners buried within the cemetery:

  • Francis Brinkley (1841–1912) Journalist and scholar.
  • Edoardo Chiossone (1833–1898), engraver.
  • Edwin Dun (1848–1931), American agricultural advisor.
  • William Clark Eastlake (1834–87) "Dental Pioneer of the Orient"
  • Hugh Fraser (1837–1894), British Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Japan.
  • Flora B. Harris, missionary and translator, wife of Merriman Colbert Harris.
  • Merriman Colbert Harris (1846–1921) American Methodist missionary.
  • Henry Hartshorne (1823–97), Quaker missionary and doctor, father of Anna Hartshorne.
  • Joseph Heco (1837–1897), the first naturalized Japanese-American.
  • Paul Jacoulet (1902–1960), French-born woodblock print artist in the Japanese style.
  • Arthur Lloyd (1852-1911), British. Anglican Church in Japan minister, Keio University professor and translator.
  • Henry Spencer Palmer (1838–1893) British engineer and journalist.
  • Julius Scriba (1848–1905), German surgeon.
  • Alexander Croft Shaw (1846-1902), Canadian. Anglican Church in Japan minister, Keio University professor.
  • Frederick William Strange (1853 – 1889), British. University instructor, founder of competitive rowing in Japan.
  • Guido Verbeck (1830–98), Dutch political advisor, educator, and missionary.
  • Gottfried Wagener (1831-1892), German chemist, educator and ceramics specialist
  • Charles Dickinson West (1847–1908), Irish engineer.

See also

  • Zōshigaya cemetery
  • Yanaka cemetery

References

Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
Dens
12 January 2015
Explore the cemetery as a great escape to the chaos of more crowded neighborhoods. Look for the "foreigner" section in the north side to see the contributions of ex-pats past.
Vivian
30 May 2019
Stone lined paths.
Paula Freire
30 March 2019
Venha ver as cerejeiras aqui!
Navera Bonda
13 April 2013
管理事務所で、歴史的墓所ガイドが頂けます。
Tadayoshi Senda
24 March 2013
桜が満開です。24 Mar 2013 #桜
M. Yanagisawa
11 November 2011
四季を通じて自然を感じられる場所ですが、新緑の季節が一番好きです。
Load more comments
foursquare.com
3.3/10
みうら こいわい, Sergey Tomilov and 6,003 more people have been here
Map
0.1km from Japan, 〒107-0062 Tokyo, Minato City, 33, 港区南青山2丁目32−2 Get directions
Tue 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
Wed 8:00 AM–7:00 PM
Thu 8:00 AM–10:00 AM
Fri 8:00 AM–7:00 PM
Sat-Sun 10:00 AM–6:00 PM

Aoyama Cemetery on Foursquare

Aoyama Cemetery on Facebook

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo

starting $244

Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo Premier Grand

starting $441

Hyatt Regency Tokyo

starting $342

Shinjuku Washington Hotel - Main Building

starting $113

Shinjuku City Hall Romantic Cabin

starting $0

THE KNOT TOKYO Shinjuku

starting $116

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
The National Art Center, Tokyo

The National Art Center (国立新美術館, Kokuritsu Shin-Bijuts

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Suntory Museum of Art

The Suntory Museum of Art (Japanese: サントリー美術館) is an arts museum loc

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Akasaka Palace

Akasaka Palace is a former imperial residence that functions today as

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Hachikō

Hachikō (ハチ公, November 10, 1923–March 8, 1935), known in Japanese

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Shibuya Crossing, Tokio

Shibuya is famous for its scramble crossing. It is located in front of

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower (東京タワー, Tōkyō tawā) is a communications and observation

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Meiji Shrine

Meiji ShrineШаблон:Nihongo, located in Shibuya, Tokyo, is the Shint

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
National Diet Library

Established in 1948 for the purpose of assisting members of the Diet

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague

The Old Jewish Cemetery (cz. Starý židovský hřbitov, Deutsch. Alt

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Glasgow Necropolis

The Glasgow Necropolis is a Victorian cemetery in Glasgow, Scotland.

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Jannat al-Mu'alla

Jannat al-Mu'alla (Arabic: جَنَّة ٱلْمُ

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Imam Reza shrine

Imām Rezā shrine (Шаблон:PerB) in Mashhad, Iran is a complex which c

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Highgate Cemetery

Highgate Cemetery is a place of burial in north London, England. It is

See all similar places