Asia Images / John Lander Photography

  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Contact
  • Archive
    • All Galleries
    • Search
    • Cart
    • Lightbox
    • Client Area
  • Books
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
x
All Galleries
Download Add to Cart
twitterlinkedinfacebook

Takamatsu Images 14 images Created 2 May 2010

Takamatsu is the largest city on the island of Shikoku. The city developed over many years as a port town and is one of the main entry points to Shikoku and so is known as the "Gateway to Shikoku". Its premier attraction is the renowned Ritsurin garden, one of the finest strolling gardens in Japan. As Shikoku is the venue for the Buddhist pilgrimage trail of 88 temples around the island, many of which are in the Takamatsu and Kagawa Prefecture area, a steady stream of "henro" or pilgrims pass through daily. Nearby Zentsuji Temple is number 75 on the pilgrimage trail and the birthplace of Kobo Daishi, Japan's most renowned monk.
View: 100 | All

Loading ()...

  • Ritsurin Pond Garden - a landscape garden in Takamatsu was built by  feudal lords during the Edo Period.  Ritsurin is considered to be one of the finest gardens in Japan, and features many pavilions, ponds, bridges and hills set beside wooded Mt. Shiun which serves as a background and serves as an example of borrowed scenery and Japanese gardening design.
    ritsurin-garden-17.jpg
  • Carp or "koi" swimming around their pond at Ritsurin Garden.  Carp are seen in Japan (as well as in the rest of Asia) as a symbol of fortune.  These ponds used as an element of a landscape pond garden. Classic koi ponds have nishikigoi Japanese ornamental carps.  It is said that the design of a koi pond has a great effect on the well-being of the carp.
    carp-koi-02.jpg
  • Takamatsu castle is also called Tamamo Castle and was built by Chikamasa Ikoma, the first feudal lord of Takamatsu.  Taking several years to build, the castle has outer, middle and inner moats. It is one of only three castles surrounded by water moats in Japan. Now mostly only the inner gardens remain along with one tower.
    takamatsu-castle-01.jpg
  • Engetsukyo Bridge at Ritsurin - a landscape garden in Takamatsu built by the local feudal lord during the Edo Period and considered one of the most esquisite gardens in Japan,  Ritsurin features ponds, hills and pavilions set in the woods which acts as background and a textbook example of borrowed scenery.
    ritsurin-garden-16.jpg
  • The Sayabashi Bridge is a bridge over the Kanakura River in Kotohira, Kagawa Prefecture. This arched wooden bridge with copper roof in Kara-hafu style is said to have been constructed during the Genroku period(1688-1703).  It was named Sayabashi because its curved shape is similar to the scabbard of a sword. It is also known as the "Uki Bashi or "Floating Bridge" because it no legs. It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 1998.
    sayabashi-bridge-kotohira-03.jpg
  • Ritsurin Trail within this magnificent landscape garden in Takamatsu.  It is  thought to be one of the finest gardens in Japan.  The garden boasts many features such as trails, teahouses, ponds, hills and pavilions set by Mt. Shiun providing a kind of borrowed scenery.
    ritsurin-garden-09.jpg
  • Zenigata is a huge coin known as Kan-ei-tsuho constructed about 2 meters deep in the white sand among the pines along the beach. It is best viewedm from a lookout observatory at Kotohiki Park  Its rim looks completely circular, but it is actually elliptic with a circumference of 345 meters.  How it came into being is a mystery,  though most people believe it was completed  in 1633 by local farmers and fishermen. Lord Ikoma was coming on a tour of inspection. .Now this coin has become the symbol of the city. Twice a year it is carefully remodeled by volunteers. They say the mere sight of the coin will make you wealthy.
    Zenigata-Sand-Coin.jpg
  • Takamatsu Central Shopping Mall boasts of the longest arcade in Japan. On the long mall, large shops and specialty shops abound.?The starting point  is Ichiban-gai renovated in 2006. Trend shops and popular brand shops were opened up during its remodeling. ?At the south corner of Ichiban-gai, the arcade is divided by three directions. Each mall, Hyogo-machi and Katahara-machi Marugame-machi, Minamishin-machi, Tokiwa-gai.
    hyogomachi-mall-03.jpg
  • Japanese votives at Motoyama-ji Temple, the 70th of 88 along the Shikoku Buddhist Pilgrimage trail.
    motoyama-ji-5.jpg
  • Rakan statues represent the 500 disciples of Buddha. Although many Buddhist sculptures are carved to represent exquisite beauty or terrifying ferociousness, rakan almost always seem to be carved in the spirit of humour and good fun
    rakan-zentsuji-2.jpg
  • Smiling Henro on the Shikoku Pilgrimage - the Pilgrimage is a trail of 88 temples on Shikoku and is believed that all 88 temples were visited by the famous Buddhist monk Kukai, founder of the Shingon school, who was born at Zentsuji Temple in 774.  To complete the pilgrimage, it is not necessary to visit the temples in order.  The pilgrimage is traditionally completed on foot, but modern pilgrims use cars, taxis, buses, bicycles or motorcycles. The walking course is approximately 1200km long and can take anywhere from 30 to 60 days to complete. "Henro" is the Japanese word for pilgrim - they are recognizable by their white clothing,  special walking sticks with bells and sedge hats.
    henro-7.jpg
  • Five Storey Pagoda at Zentsuji in Kagawa Prefecture is number 75 and the largest of the 88 Sacred Temples of Shikoku - an ancient pilgrimage route that circles the island of Shikoku.  The temple was the home of Kobo Daishi (Kukai), the founder of the Koyasan temple complex in Wakayama and one of the most influential Buddhist priests in Japanese history. Kobo Daishi is reputed to have been born in the area and to have grown up in the temple.
    zentsuji-2.jpg
  • Group of Henro at Zentsuji Temple - The Shikoku Pilgrimage is a trail of 88 temples on the island of Shikoku.  The long pilgrimage is traditionally completed on foot, but modern pilgrims use cars, taxis, buses, bicycles or motorcycles. The walking course is approximately 1200 km long and can take at least a month to complete. "Henro" is the Japanese word for pilgrim and are recognisable by their white clothes, special hats and walking sticks.
    henro-6.jpg
  • Henro Walking Sticks or Staffs - "Henro" is the Japanese word for pilgrim - who are recognizable by their special walking sticks, white clothing and straw sedge hats.
    henro-2.jpg