What makes a space timeless? At the Nakane Garden Research Institute, every project begins with this single question. We believe our mission goes beyond mere aesthetics. By honoring the laws of nature and the cultural heartbeat of the land, we craft environments that bridge the past with the future. We aim to shape landscapes that serve those living today while enduring to reach the memories of future generations.
Based in the cultural capital of Kyoto, we have been involved in numerous landscaping projects both in Japan and abroad. Projects range from the restoration of cultural heritage gardens to the creation of modern landscapes. What we have faced are 'places' that exist beyond borders and eras, and the 'stories' nurtured deep within them. The beauty of a space is never born by chance.
Every location holds its own history, culture, and human legacy. We begin by listening to and interpreting these elements. Our goal is not to simply mimic the past, but to re-examine its essence and elevate it into a form suited for the modern era. We believe that this process is what creates spaces that live on through time.
We place great importance on maintaining our three pillars—Research, Design, and Landscaping—as a single, unified philosophy. We think, we envision, and we make decisions on-site. In every step, we continue to demand an uncompromising standard of beauty. To commission the Nakane Garden Research Institute is to co-create a one-of-a-kind space. Beyond mere superficial beauty, an existence that is destined to become a proud symbol of the land.
We believe that such spaces have the potential to become "new classics”.
History
The History of Nakane Garden Research Institute
‘43
1943: Kinsaku Nakane joins the Kyoto Prefectural Cultural Assets Protection Division, dedicated to the preservation of Japan’s heritage.。
‘65
1965: Departed his official post at the Kyoto Cultural Assets Protection Division to establish an independent path.
‘89
1989: Relocated from Shimogamo, Sakyo-ku to our current location.
Pre-Founding History
During his tenure, he had the opportunity to conduct surveys, preservation, and restoration work on nearly all of the famous historical gardens in and around Kyoto that had fallen into ruin after the war.
‘66
1966: Established the Nakane Garden Research Institute.
‘95
1995: Following the passing of our former director, Shiro Nakane was appointed as the second President and Director.
’43
1943: Kinsaku Nakane joins the Kyoto Prefectural Cultural Assets Protection Division, dedicated to the preservation of Japan’s heritage.。
’65
1965: Departed his official post at the Kyoto Cultural Assets Protection Division to establish an independent path.
During his tenure, he had the opportunity to conduct surveys, conservation, and restoration of nearly all the famous historic gardens centered in post-war devastated Kyoto.
’66
1966: Established the Nakane Garden Research Institute.
’89
1989: Relocated from Shimogamo, Sakyo-ku to our current location.
’95
1995: Following the passing of our former director, Shiro Nakane was appointed as the second President and Director.
FOUNDER
Founder
Kinsaku Nakane (August 28, 1917 – March 1, 1995)
The philosophy of the Nakane Garden Research Institute was born from the life of our founder, Kinsaku Nakane. Captivated by the overwhelming beauty of Japan’s historical masterpieces, he vowed to inherit and create "authentic beauty" with his own hands. His encounter with the gardens of Tenryu-ji solidified this resolve, becoming the lifelong foundation of his work.
In the post-war era, Nakane moved to Kyoto, immersing himself in the restoration of cultural heritage gardens while simultaneously pouring his energy into new creations. As he faced the preservation of iconic sites like Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji, his reach expanded to landscaping projects both across Japan and around the globe.
He viewed the garden as a "comprehensive art form," drawing inspiration from architecture, painting, crafts, calligraphy, performing arts, and the tea ceremony. Believing that a garden cannot be born from theory alone, he prioritized on-site intuition and lived experience—a conviction that remains a pillar of our philosophy today.
In 1966, he founded the Nakane Garden Research Institute in his beloved Kyoto. Throughout a career spanning countless global projects, he pursued a single, fundamental question: "What is beauty that survives the passage of time?"
This ideology remains the core of the institute today, carried forward in our mission to create the “New Classics."
The philosophy of the Nakane Garden Research Institute was born from the life of our founder, Kinsaku Nakane.
Captivated by the overwhelming beauty of Japan’s historical masterpieces, he vowed to inherit and create "authentic beauty" with his own hands. His encounter with the gardens of Tenryu-ji solidified this resolve, becoming the lifelong foundation of his work.
In the post-war era, Nakane moved to Kyoto, immersing himself in the restoration of cultural heritage gardens while simultaneously pouring his energy into new creations. As he faced the preservation of iconic sites like Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji, his reach expanded to landscaping projects both across Japan and around the globe.
He viewed the garden as a "comprehensive art form," drawing inspiration from architecture, painting, crafts, calligraphy, performing arts, and the tea ceremony. Believing that a garden cannot be born from theory alone, he prioritized on-site intuition and lived experience—a conviction that remains a pillar of our philosophy today.
In 1966, he founded the Nakane Garden Research Institute in his beloved Kyoto. Throughout a career spanning countless global projects, he pursued a single, fundamental question: "What is beauty that survives the passage of time?"
This ideology remains the core of the institute today, carried forward in our mission to create the “New Classics."
著書紹介
Founder
THE GLORY OF GARDENS
2,000 Years of Writings on Garden Design (Harry N. Abrams, Inc.)
Book by Shiro Nakane and Kinsaku Nakane | Published April 2006
This volume selects 100 garden designers from the past two millennia, pairing stunning photography with insightful commentary. It serves as a journey through garden history, covering diverse traditions including European, Japanese, Chinese, and Islamic styles while offering contemporary perspectives on the study of each specific aesthetic.
"100 Masterpiece Gardens of Kyoto" by Kinsaku Nakane
Kinsaku Nakane: Author | Published April 1999 by Tankosha
A definitive collection of the author’s decade-long series, The Masterpiece Gardens of Kyoto. This volume features 100 meticulously selected gardens, capturing the essence of their creators, techniques, stone arrangements, and plantings. From the overall composition to the subtle highlights, it offers a comprehensive guide to Kyoto’s finest landscapes, including Saiho-ji, Tokai-an, Shinjuan, Shoden-ji, Manshu-in, the Katsura Imperial Villa, the Kyoto Imperial Palace, Omotesenke tea gardens, Tairyu-sanso, Shin-shin-an, and more.
The Antioch Review
Kinsaku Nakane: Author | New Edition published July 1996 by Tankosha
Director Shiro Nakane’s essay, “Structure in the Japanese Garden” (featured in The Glory of Gardens: 2,000 Years of Writings on Garden Design), has been published in the prestigious American quarterly The Antioch Review (Vol. 64, No. 2, Spring 2006). Appearing alongside the work of renowned figures Peter Walker and Christophe Girot, Mr. Nakane is the first Asian landscape architect to be featured in this authoritative journal. This inclusion serves as a testament that the "extra dimension" we constantly strive for in our designs is recognized by Western society. Moving forward, we remain committed to creating landscapes guided by our distinct vision and philosophy.
Contemporary landscape architecture
Chris van Uffelen 編集 : Markus Sebastian Braun /2025.02/Braun Publishing AG
This publication is a large-format collection showcasing outstanding examples of contemporary landscape architecture (landscape and garden design) from around the world. It features a wide range of innovative projects that address the diverse challenges facing modern landscape design, including climate change adaptation, sustainability, ecosystem conservation, and urban greening. Richly illustrated with photographs, the book presents a variety of projects from across the globe, including parks, plazas, waterfronts, public spaces, and gardens integrated with architecture, highlighting the role of landscape as a bridge between architecture and nature.
Among the internationally acclaimed contemporary landscape projects featured in this publication is "Kakumei Kyuko", the garden of Reigen-in, a sub-temple of Kennin-ji, which was designed and constructed by our company.
Company profile
Company Name
Nakane Garden Research Institute Co., Ltd.
Representative
Representative Director and Office Manager, Shiro Nakane
Establishment
September 1, 1966 (Showa 41)
Capital
35,000,000円
Employees
14
Registration
Construction Consultant Registration No. 3725 (Landscape Architecture Sector), Surveying Business Registration No. 28514, Construction Business License (Kyoto Prefectural Governor) No. 18780
Adresss
1-6 Taniguchi Karadanouchi-cho, Ukyo-ku, 〒616-8013, Kyoto, Japan
TEL/FAX
(81) 075-465-2373 / (81) 075-465-2374
email
office@nakane-garden.co.jp
International Partners
America
Oehme, van Sweden & Associates, Inc. Phone +1 202 546 7575 / Fax +1 202 546 1035
