“Grove of Life”
Seicho-No-Ie Harajuku “Grove of Life”
The grove to feel nature in the middle of the city
The Harajuku “Grove of Life” was completed in February of 2015 by converting the site cleared by demolishing all 5 buildings that comprised Seicho-No-Ie Headquarters (except the “Tower of Light”) into a green space.
This green space was created based on the concept found in Genesis 1 of the Bible, which states that heaven and earth created by God are perfect. Rather than gathering some elements of nature and excluding others for human convenience, it was developed by planting trees according to the land’s original vegetation and respecting biodiversity that embraces all living things. Specifically, while preserving existing trees on the site, approximately 5,500 trees—including deciduous trees like Japanese snowbell (ego no ki), evergreen trees like Japanese oak (arakashi), and fruit trees like loquat (biwa)— were newly planted, as well as ground cover plants like Japanese dog-tooth-violet (katakuri), totaling about 48,000 pots.
The two gazebos placed along the footpath can be used as spots for admiring nature or for meditation. We hope you will enjoy strolling through the forest where trees, flowers, and fruits change with the seasons, and birds, butterflies, and insects flutter around, savoring nature’s bounty.
User Guide
Seicho-No-Ie Harajuku “Grove of Life”
Address: Tokyo-to, Shibuya-ku, Meiji-mae, 1-23-30, 150-0001
Phone: 03-6804-1300
Open hours: 10AM – 4:30PM
Closed Days: Thursdays, National Holidays, Year-End and New Year Holidays
Seicho-No-Ie’s Harajuku Tower of Light
Tower of Light representing that “all religions emanate from one universal God.”
The Tower of Light, completed in 1954 as the central point of Seicho-No-Ie’s propagation following the vision of the founder Masaharu Taniguchi, is a seven-story structure based on the Seven Golden Candlesticks in the Book of Revelation. The “Seven Golden Candlesticks (Lighthouses)” symbolizes Seicho-No-Ie’s teaching that “All Religions Emanate from One Universal God,” which lights the torch of truth in the world’s religions and brings harmony.
Following seismic reinforcement, the Tower of Light has been renewed. A new Seven-Story Pagoda representing the magnificent tower adorned with seven kinds of treasures as described in the “Emergence of the Treasure Tower,” chapter of the Lotus Sutra, was installed. This pagoda represents Seicho-No-Ie’s seven missions and goals, including spreading the truth that “All Religions Emanate from One Universal God” and “Harmony Among Living Beings.” A space for meditation has also been prepared. A space to display artworks themed around nature and other subjects has been prepared from the first to the third floor. Thus, the Tower of Light was reborn as a facility where visitors can experience beauty through the appreciation of art, while praying for harmony among the world’s religions and between nature and human beings (harmony among living beings).
Following seismic reinforcement, the Tower of Light has been renewed. A new Seven-Story Pagoda representing the magnificent tower adorned with seven kinds of treasures as described in the “Emergence of the Treasure Tower,” chapter of the Lotus Sutra, was installed. This pagoda represents Seicho-No-Ie’s seven missions and goals, including spreading the truth that “All Religions Emanate from One Universal God” and “Harmony Among Living Beings.” A space for meditation has also been prepared. A space to display artworks themed around nature and other subjects has been prepared from the first to the third floor. Thus, the Tower of Light was reborn as a facility where visitors can experience beauty through the appreciation of art, while praying for harmony among the world’s religions and between nature and human beings (harmony among living beings).
Tower of Light designer: Hideto Kishida (1899-1966)
Appreciate works of art and pray for world peace and harmony among all things.
Renewed as a zero-energy building
Appreciate
1) Exhibition space (2nd, 3rd floor)
A unique exhibition space featuring arched windows. The “Grove of Life” can be seen through the windows.
2) Exhibition space (1st floor)
A space that feels like being one with the garden spreading outside the window. The floors and walls feature thinned Tamba cypress wood and cedar wood from Okutama.
Meditate
3) Chandelier
Existing chandeliers were refurbished by converting their internal lighting to LED.
4) Meditation space
Installed on the 1st floor of the large circular tower that represents harmony. The tower has a three-story atrium
5) Seven-Story Pagoda
The seven roofs of the tower were made of granite taken from the white dove fountain that stood on the first floor of the circular tower.
Electricity production
The installed solar panels allow the Tower of Light to produce electricity, and a combination of various environmental technologies including insulation materials, highly insulating wooden sashes, Low-E double panels, and the introduction of cool tubes, along with the full adoption of LED lighting, reduces energy consumption. Doing this, we are aiming for a Zero Energy Building (ZEB) with a net-zero annual energy balance.
6) Solar Panels
As the site receives ample sunlight, a total of 189 panels were installed on the available roof space. The total power generation capacity is 47 kW.
7) Eco-panel
The panel displays the temperature outside and of every floor inside the tower, as well as the situation of the air conditioner. The temperature of the rooms can be adjusted by operating the windows and the fan.
8) Cool tubes
During summer, cold air is drawn in from the garden, cooled further by passing through a tube buried 1.5 meters underground, and is discharged from the first floor of the Tower of Light.
Harajuku “Grove of Life” highlights map
Main entrance
Meditation space where you can feel nature
Joushin-an (Retreat of Pure Heart)
A walking path where you can admire the trees and observe their roots and ground cover plants.
A place to appreciate artworks and meditate in quiet contemplation.
Tower of Light
A pond where aquatic life thrives and birds gather.
A meditation space connected with nature.
Jouraku-an (Retreat of Eternal Joy)
Cool tube outside air intake
An old well revived with a hand pump. *Well water is not drinkable.
Approximately 5,500 trees—including large and medium-sized trees, and shrubs—were planted alongside approximately 48,000 pots of ground cover plants within the garden, supplementing the existing trees.
Trees (large & medium): Approx. 1,800 trees.
Evergreen plants: Japanese oak, Japanese holly (existing trees), camphor tree.
Deciduous plants: Yoshino cherry (existing trees), ginkgo (existing trees), zelkova, Japanese maple, Japanese rowan.
Shrubs: Approximately 3,700.
Evergreen plants: holly, cycad (existing trees).
Deciduous plants: Mitsuba azalea, Japanese kerria, enkianthus, ground cover plants.
Approximately 48,000 pots.
Herbaceous Plants: dog-tooth-violet (katakuri), ichirinsou
