Why did garden activity shift from Kyoto to Edo during the Tokugawa period?

The shift of garden activity from Kyoto to Edo during the Tokugawa period (1603–1867) was primarily a result of the relocation of the national political center.12

When Tokugawa Ieyasu became shogun in 1603, he established his headquarters in Edo (modern-day Tokyo), making it the de facto seat of government. This political transition necessitated the movement of the administrative and social elite to the new capital. Furthermore, the Tokugawa government implemented the bakuhan system, which required daimyo (feudal lords) to maintain residences in Edo and pay periodic visits to the shogun, fueling the city's rapid growth and cultural development.1

As the center of power and wealth, Edo became the focal point for new architectural and landscape projects. While gardens continued to be refined throughout the period, those in Edo were often characterized as being more "obviously crafted" and bold compared to the tea gardens of the earlier Muromachi period. Additionally, some gardens in the Edo region took on utilitarian roles, such as incorporating duck ponds or spaces for cultivating resources like reeds and plums.12