How did the Meiji Restoration affect historic Japanese gardens?

The Meiji Restoration of 1868, which marked the end of the feudal system in Japan, had a significant impact on the country's historic gardens. While a number of these gardens survived the transition, many celebrated examples were lost to neglect or were sacrificed to the demands of modern progress.1

Following the restoration, the government began to encourage the establishment of public parks throughout Japan, a trend that gained momentum starting in 1873. While Western-style gardens were introduced during this period alongside other foreign influences, they made little headway in replacing traditional Japanese landscape design.1

Ultimately, the preservation of these spaces proved valuable for public safety; for instance, during the great earthquake and fire of 1923, large private gardens and public parks in Tokyo provided essential refuge for tens of thousands of people.1