Miniature lakes, artificial hills, and traditional Japanese and Chinese dry landscape make up the core scenery of this strolling-type garden which is centered around a pond. The landscaping techniques hail back to the time of the feudal gardens in the Edo Period, but as the design of the garden continued into the Meiji Period, it is said they have a modern feel to them. The gardens were severely damaged in the Great Kanto Earthquake, but unexpectedly served as a refuge area in the aftermath of the earthquake, and saved the lives of countless disaster victims. The Iwasaki Family realized the importance of the gardens as a disaster prevention facility and donated the fairly undamaged half of the east bank to Tokyo City in 1924. The city took over maintenance of the gardens and opened them to the public in 1932. In 1977, the grounds adjacent to the west bank of the gardens were added as a supplemental area with a grass lawn, pond, and stream. There were also about 20 cherry blossom trees planted, and it has become a popular flower viewing spot in the spring. On March 31, 1979 Kiyosumi Gardens were designated a Beautiful Site by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.