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  • Japanese Tea Garden Bridge - Originally created as a "Japanese Village" exhibit for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition, the Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park originally spanned about one acre. When the fair closed, Japanese landscape architect Makoto Hagiwara created a permanent Japanese garden as a gift for posterity.  Hagiwara became caretaker of the property, pouring all of his personal wealth and creative talents into creating a garden of perfection.  Hagiwara expanded the garden to its current size of approximately 5 acres. He and his family lived on the grounds for many years until 1942 when they were forced to evacuate their homes and put into internment camps. Today, the Japanese Tea Garden endures as one of the most popular attractions at Golden Gate Park, featuring an arched drum bridge, pagodas, stone lanterns, stepping stone paths, native Japanese plants, serene koi ponds and a zen garden.
    golden-gate-japanese-garden-7.jpg
  • Japanese Tea Garden Bridge - Originally created as a "Japanese Village" exhibit for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition, the Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park originally spanned about one acre. When the fair closed, Japanese landscape architect Makoto Hagiwara created a permanent Japanese garden as a gift for posterity.  Hagiwara became caretaker of the property, pouring all of his personal wealth and creative talents into creating a garden of perfection.  Hagiwara expanded the garden to its current size of approximately 5 acres. He and his family lived on the grounds for many years until 1942 when they were forced to evacuate their homes and put into internment camps. Today, the Japanese Tea Garden endures as one of the most popular attractions at Golden Gate Park, featuring an arched drum bridge, pagodas, stone lanterns, stepping stone paths, native Japanese plants, serene koi ponds and a zen garden.
    golden-gate-japanese-garden-2.jpg
  • Originally created as a "Japanese Village" exhibit for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition, the Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park originally spanned about one acre. When the fair closed, Japanese landscape architect Makoto Hagiwara created a permanent Japanese garden as a gift for posterity.  Hagiwara became caretaker of the property, pouring all of his personal wealth and creative talents into creating a garden of perfection.  Hagiwara expanded the garden to its current size of approximately 5 acres. He and his family lived on the grounds for many years until 1942 when they were forced to evacuate their homes and put into internment camps. Today, the Japanese Tea Garden endures as one of the most popular attractions at Golden Gate Park, featuring an arched drum bridge, pagodas, stone lanterns, stepping stone paths, native Japanese plants, serene koi ponds and a zen garden.
    golden-gate-japanese-garden-5.jpg
  • Japanese Gardener - Rev Takafumi Kawakami is the vice-abbot at Shunkoin Temple and teaches classes about Zen culture and meditation and serves as a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures. Here Rev Takafumi is raking the temple's Zen Garden. The Garden of Bolders, or Sazareishi-no-niwa, is the main garden of Shunkoin. The theme of the garden is the Great Shrine of Ise in Mie Prefecture. The Great Shrine of Ise is the head shrine of all Shinto shrines in Japan. This garden houses a shrine to Toyouke-no-omikami, a goddess of agriculture.
    japanese-gardener-1.jpg
  • Japanese Stone Lanterns and Moss at Hokokuji Temple in Kamakaura - Ishidoro lanterns are usually used to decorate Japanese gardens, shrines and temples rather than for providing light, although occasionally they are lit up with candles inside during festivals.   Ishidoro Lanterns were introduced to Japan via China in the 6th century.  The earliest lanterns, found only in temple grounds, were designed to hold the flame representing Buddha.  Light  helps us overcome the darkness of ignorance. Ishidoro were originally used at temples, gardens and shrines.  Around the 16th century stone lanterns were adopted  and placed in the gardens of teahouses.
    japanese-stone-lantern.jpg
  • Originally created as a "Japanese Village" exhibit for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition, the Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park originally spanned about one acre. When the fair closed, Japanese landscape architect Makoto Hagiwara created a permanent Japanese garden as a gift for posterity.  Hagiwara became caretaker of the property, pouring all of his personal wealth and creative talents into creating a garden of perfection.  Hagiwara expanded the garden to its current size of approximately 5 acres. He and his family lived on the grounds for many years until 1942 when they were forced to evacuate their homes and put into internment camps. Today, the Japanese Tea Garden endures as one of the most popular attractions at Golden Gate Park, featuring an arched drum bridge, pagodas, stone lanterns, stepping stone paths, native Japanese plants, serene koi ponds and a zen garden.
    golden-gate-tea-1.jpg
  • Originally created as a "Japanese Village" exhibit for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition, the Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park originally spanned about one acre. When the fair closed, Japanese landscape architect Makoto Hagiwara created a permanent Japanese garden as a gift for posterity.  Hagiwara became caretaker of the property, pouring all of his personal wealth and creative talents into creating a garden of perfection.  Hagiwara expanded the garden to its current size of approximately 5 acres. He and his family lived on the grounds for many years until 1942 when they were forced to evacuate their homes and put into internment camps. Today, the Japanese Tea Garden endures as one of the most popular attractions at Golden Gate Park, featuring an arched drum bridge, pagodas, stone lanterns, stepping stone paths, native Japanese plants, serene koi ponds and a zen garden.
    golden-gate-tea-7.jpg
  • Sanyo-so Japanese garden, designed by renowned Kyoto craftsman Jihei Ogawa beautifully reflects four seasons: weeping cherry trees in spring, iris in summer, maple in autumn, as well as Japanese plum in winter. The garden permeates the vast ryokan compound from the original Azumaya building  which is the best place to view the entire garden. The  buildings all reflect traditional Japanese building methods designed by famed architect Togo Murano.
    sanyo-so-02.jpg
  • Rev Takafumi Kawakami is the vice-abbot at Shunkoin Temple and teaches classes about Zen culture and meditation and serves as a bridge between the Eastern and Western cultures. Here Rev Takafumi is raking the temple's Zen Garden. The Garden of Bolders, or Sazareishi-no-niwa, is the main garden of Shunkoin. The theme of the garden is the Great Shrine of Ise in Mie Prefecture. The Great Shrine of Ise is the head shrine of all Shinto shrines in Japan.
    japanese-gardener-2.jpg
  • Hokukuji Temple Tea House - Traditional Japanese architecture is designed around specific purposes. The chashitsu literally tea room is one special type of architecture, usually very small and made of natural materials: wood, plaster, reed tatami floords, and shoji paper windows. The special architectural style that developed for chashitsu is called sukiya style or specifically sukiya zukuri. It has come to indicate a style of designing public facilities and private homes based on tea house aesthetics. Features of chashitsu typically include a tokonoma alcove; subdued colors, and the size is ideally 4.5 tatami mats.
    hokokuji-8.jpg
  • The Katsura Imperial Villa or Katsura Rikyu as it is known in Japanese is a villa in the western suburbs of Kyoto. It is one of Japan's most important large-scale cultural treasures. Its gardens are a masterpiece of Japanese gardening, and the buildings perfect examples of Japanese architecture at its best. The Katsura Imperial Villa is a good example of the essence of Japanese traditional design. The Villa combines principles usually used in early Shinto shrines and merges it with the esthetics and philosophy of Zen Buddhism. It provides an invaluable window into the villas of princes of the Edo period. The palace formerly belonged to the prince of the Hachij -no-miya family. The Imperial Household Agency now maintains and administers.
    katsura-6.jpg
  • The Katsura Imperial Villa or Katsura Rikyu as it is known in Japanese is a villa in the western suburbs of Kyoto. It is one of Japan's most important large-scale cultural treasures. Its gardens are a masterpiece of Japanese gardening, and the buildings perfect examples of Japanese architecture at its best. The Katsura Imperial Villa is a good example of the essence of Japanese traditional design. The Villa combines principles usually used in early Shinto shrines and merges it with the esthetics and philosophy of Zen Buddhism. It provides an invaluable window into the villas of princes of the Edo period. The palace formerly belonged to the prince of the Hachij-no-miya family. The Imperial Household Agency now maintains and administers.
    katsura-3.jpg
  • The Katsura Imperial Villa or Katsura Rikyu as it is known in Japanese is a villa in the western suburbs of Kyoto. It is one of Japan's most important large-scale cultural treasures. Its gardens are a masterpiece of Japanese gardening, and the buildings perfect examples of Japanese architecture at its best. The Katsura Imperial Villa is a good example of the essence of Japanese traditional design. The Villa combines principles usually used in early Shinto shrines and merges it with the esthetics and philosophy of Zen Buddhism. It provides an invaluable window into the villas of princes of the Edo period. The palace formerly belonged to the prince of the Hachij-no-miya family. The Imperial Household Agency now maintains and administers.
    katsura-7.jpg
  • Katsura Villa Garden Bridge - The Katsura Imperial Villa or Katsura Rikyu as it is known in Japanese is a villa in the western suburbs of Kyoto. It is one of Japan's most important large-scale cultural treasures. Its gardens are a masterpiece of Japanese gardening, and the buildings perfect examples of Japanese architecture at its best. The Katsura Imperial Villa is a good example of the essence of Japanese traditional design. The Villa combines principles usually used in early Shinto shrines and merges it with the esthetics and philosophy of Zen Buddhism. It provides an invaluable window into the villas of princes of the Edo period. The palace formerly belonged to the prince of the Hachij -no-miya family. The Imperial Household Agency now maintains and administers.
    katsura-5.jpg
  • The Katsura Imperial Villa or Katsura Rikyu as it is known in Japanese is a villa in the western suburbs of Kyoto. It is one of Japan's most important large-scale cultural treasures. Its gardens are a masterpiece of Japanese gardening, and the buildings perfect examples of Japanese architecture at its best. The Katsura Imperial Villa is a good example of the essence of Japanese traditional design. The Villa combines principles usually used in early Shinto shrines and merges it with the esthetics and philosophy of Zen Buddhism. It provides an invaluable window into the villas of princes of the Edo period. The palace formerly belonged to the prince of the Hachij-no-miya family. The Imperial Household Agency now maintains and administers.
    katsura-4.jpg
  • The Katsura Imperial Villa or Katsura Rikyu as it is known in Japanese is a villa in the western suburbs of Kyoto. It is one of Japan's most important large-scale cultural treasures. Its gardens are a masterpiece of Japanese gardening, and the buildings perfect examples of Japanese architecture at its best. The Katsura Imperial Villa is a good example of the essence of Japanese traditional design. The Villa combines principles usually used in early Shinto shrines and merges it with the esthetics and philosophy of Zen Buddhism. It provides an invaluable window into the villas of princes of the Edo period. The palace formerly belonged to the prince of the Hachij-no-miya family. The Imperial Household Agency now maintains and administers.
    katsura-1.jpg
  • Katsura Villa Garden Bridge - The Katsura Imperial Villa or Katsura Rikyu as it is known in Japanese is a villa in the western suburbs of Kyoto. It is one of Japan's most important large-scale cultural treasures. Its gardens are a masterpiece of Japanese gardening, and the buildings perfect examples of Japanese architecture at its best. The Katsura Imperial Villa is a good example of the essence of Japanese traditional design. The Villa combines principles usually used in early Shinto shrines and merges it with the esthetics and philosophy of Zen Buddhism. It provides an invaluable window into the villas of princes of the Edo period. The palace formerly belonged to the prince of the Hachij-no-miya family. The Imperial Household Agency now maintains and administers.
    katsura-2.jpg
  • Koishikawa Korakuen Garden is one of Tokyo's oldest and most beautiful Japanese landscape gardens. It was built by close relatives of the Tokugawa Shogun in the early Edo Period..Like most traditional Japanese gardens, Koishikawa Korakuen attempts to reproduce famous landscapes from China and Japan in miniature, using a pond, stones, plants and a man made hill.
    koishikawa-korakuen-9.jpg
  • Byodo-in is a Buddhist temple in the city of Uji in Kyoto prefecture.  It is a National Treasure and a World Heritage Site and its outline is featured on the ¥10 coin. Built in 998 AD during the Heian period, Byodo-in was originally a private residence like many Japanese temples.  It was converted into a temple by the Fujiwara clan in 1052. The Phoenix Hall, the great statue of Amida inside it, and several other items at Byodoin are Japanese National Treasures. UNESCO listed the garden and building as a World Heritage Site in 1994.
    byodo-in-garden.jpg
  • Korin-in was a family temple of the Maeda Family. The main temple, the front gate and the entry gates are designated Important Cultural Properties by the Japanese government and are typical Zen style architecture in the Muromachi period.
    korin-in-garden-2.jpg
  • Tsutenkyo Bridge at Koishikawa Korakuen Garden- one of Tokyo's oldest and most beautiful Japanese landscape gardens. It was built by close relatives of the Tokugawa Shogun in the early Edo Period..Like most traditional Japanese gardens, Koishikawa Korakuen attempts to reproduce famous landscapes from China and Japan in miniature, using a pond, stones, plants and a man made hill.
    tsutenkyo-bridge-1.jpg
  • Tsutenkyo Bridge at Koishikawa Korakuen Garden -  one of Tokyo's oldest and most beautiful Japanese landscape gardens. It was built by close relatives of the Tokugawa Shogun in the early Edo Period..Like most traditional Japanese gardens, Koishikawa Korakuen attempts to reproduce famous landscapes from China and Japan in miniature, using a pond, stones, plants and a man made hill..
    tsutenkyo-bridge-2.jpg
  • Korin-in was a family temple of the Maeda Family. The main temple, the front gate and the entry gates are designated Important Cultural Properties by the Japanese government and are typical Zen style architecture in the Muromachi period.
    korin-in-garden-1.jpg
  • Hanami at Hama Rikkyu Gardenor  Hama-rikyu Onshi Teien - a landscape garden surrounding Shioiri Pond. The park itself is surrounded by a seawater moat filled by Tokyo Bay. It was remodeled as a public garden park on the site of a villa of the Shogun Tokugawa family in the 17th century.  Visitors can also enjoy Japanese tea and sweets at a tea house in the middle of the pond, called Nakajima-no-Ochaya in the garden that offers matcha tea and Japanese sweets.
    hanami-10.jpg
  • Hama Rikyu Garden Bridge or  Hama-rikyu Onshi Teien is a  landscape garden surrounding Shioiri Pond. The park itself is surrounded by a seawater moat filled by Tokyo Bay. It was remodeled as a public garden park on the site of a villa of the Shogun Tokugawa family in the 17th century.  Visitors can also enjoy Japanese tea and sweets at a tea house in the middle of the pond, called Nakajima-no-Ochaya in the garden that offers matcha tea and Japanese sweets.
    hama-rikkyu-3.jpg
  • Shorazon Hill at Koishikawa Korakuen Garden - one of Tokyo's oldest and most beautiful Japanese landscape gardens. It was built by close relatives of the Tokugawa Shogun in the early Edo Period..Like most traditional Japanese gardens, Koishikawa Korakuen attempts to reproduce famous landscapes from China and Japan in miniature, using a pond, stones, plants and a man made hill.
    koishikawa-korakuen-10.jpg
  • Ritsurin is a landscape garden in Takamatsu  built by the local feudal lords during the Edo Period. Considered one of the finest gardens in Japan,  Ritsurin features many ponds, hills and pavilions set in front of wooded Mt. Shiun which serves as a background and example of borrowed scenery and Japanese gardening design.
    ritsurin-garden-02.jpg
  • Tenryuji Garden has been ranked first among Kyoto's "Five Great Zen Temples". Tenryuji was established in 1339, and like many other temples burnt down several times over its history. Muso Soseki, the temple's founding abbot and famous garden designer, created Tenryuji's landscape garden which, unlike the temple buildings, survived the many fires and is considered one of the oldest of its kind, that is "borrowed landscape" garden, taking in the background scenery of the hills of  Arashiyama as part of the garden's composition. Sogenchi pond and Ishigumi rock clusters in the garden are this pond garden's essential ingredients.
    tenryuji-1.jpg
  • Kuhachi-ya Cottage at Koishikawa Korakuen Garden is one of Tokyo's oldest and most beautiful Japanese landscape gardens. It was built by close relatives of the Tokugawa Shogun in the early Edo Period..Like most traditional Japanese gardens, Koishikawa Korakuen attempts to reproduce famous landscapes from China and Japan in miniature, using a pond, stones, plants and a man made hill.
    koishikawa-korakuen-6.jpg
  • Hama Rikyu Garden or  Hama-rikyu Onshi Teien is a  landscape garden surrounding Shioiri Pond. The park itself is surrounded by a seawater moat filled by Tokyo Bay. It was remodeled as a public garden park on the site of a villa of the Shogun Tokugawa family in the 17th century.  Visitors can also enjoy Japanese tea and sweets at a tea house in the middle of the pond, called Nakajima-no-Ochaya in the garden that offers matcha tea and Japanese sweets.
    nakajima-ochaya-1.jpg
  • Ritsurin is a landscape garden in Takamatsu  built by the local feudal lords during the Edo Period. Considered one of the finest gardens in Japan,  Ritsurin features many ponds, hills and pavilions set in front of wooded Mt. Shiun which serves as a background and example of borrowed scenery and Japanese gardening design.
    ritsurin-garden-26.jpg
  • Japanese girls in Kimono at Entoku-in Garden, originally part of Fushimijo Castle and also a sub-temple of Kodaiji Temple. The northern dry garden shows the essence of Momoyama style and is a registered National Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese government. It was built in 1605 and dedicated as a Rinzai sect temple in 1633.
    entoku-in-2.jpg
  • Tsutenkyo Bridge at Koishikawa Korakuen Garden -  one of Tokyo's oldest and most beautiful Japanese landscape gardens. It was built by close relatives of the Tokugawa Shogun in the early Edo Period..Like most traditional Japanese gardens, Koishikawa Korakuen attempts to reproduce famous landscapes from China and Japan in miniature, using a pond, stones, plants and a man made hill..
    tsutenkyo-bridge-3.jpg
  • Tenryuji has been ranked first among Kyoto's "Five Great Zen Temples". Tenryuji was established in 1339, and like many other temples burnt down several times over its history. Muso Soseki, the temple's founding abbot and famous garden designer, created Tenryuji's landscape garden which, unlike the temple buildings, survived the many fires and is considered one of the oldest of its kind, that is "borrowed landscape" garden, taking in the background scenery of the hills of  Arashiyama as part of the garden's composition. Sogenchi pond and Ishigumi rock clusters in the garden are this pond garden's essential ingredients.
    tenryuji-7.jpg
  • Shosei-en Garden is a traditional Japanese formal garden thought to have been built in the ninth century on the site of Prince Minamoto Notoru's mansion. Fires in 1858 and 1864 burnt the walls and interior structures to the ground. They were thereafter restored, and in 1938 designated a National Historic Site. Within the grounds, there are several tea houses, a large pond, a small waterfall, many stone lanterns, and bridges - all a mere 10 minute walk from the main Kyoto Station and the bullet trains.
    shosei-en-3.jpg
  • Chogakuji Temple Tsubo Niwa Garden - Chogakuji Temple is said to have been founded around 824 by Kobo Daishi,.  In a rural area of Nara, the temple has two different Japanese gardens.  One is a small pond garden, surrounded by pine trees in a tsubo niwa or pocket garden style.  The Pure Land garden is rather austere, overlooking the temple itself.
    chogakuji-pond.garden-2.jpg
  • Chogakuji Temple Pure Land ond Garden - Chogakuji Temple is said to have been founded around 824 by Kobo Daishi,.  In a rural area of Nara, the temple has two different Japanese gardens.  One is a small pond garden, surrounded by pine trees in a tsubo niwa or pocket garden style.  The Pure Land garden is rather austere, overlooking the temple itself.
    chogakuji-pond.garden-1.jpg
  • Chogakuji Temple Tsubo Niwa Garden - Chogakuji Temple is said to have been founded around 824 by Kobo Daishi,.  In a rural area of Nara, the temple has two different Japanese gardens.  One is a small pond garden, surrounded by pine trees in a tsubo niwa or pocket garden style.  The Pure Land garden is rather austere, overlooking the temple itself.
    chogakuji-pond.garden-4.jpg
  • Koishikawa Korakuen Garden is one of Tokyo's oldest and most beautiful Japanese landscape gardens. It was built by close relatives of the Tokugawa Shogun in the early Edo Period..Like most traditional Japanese gardens, Koishikawa Korakuen attempts to reproduce famous landscapes from China and Japan in miniature, using a pond, stones, plants and a man made hill.
    koishikawa-korakuen-12.jpg
  • Shofu-en has three famous gardens: Iwakura, Horai and Kyokusui. These modern Japanese gardens were designed by Mirei Shigemori during the Showa era. They are among the greatest of Japanese gardens designed after the Meiji era. Mirei designed them with a combination of rocks, and the opposite concepts of "stillness" and "movement" in harmony.
    matsuo-shrine-garden-4.jpg
  • Kairaku-en   "A park to be enjoyed together" is a Japanese garden located in Mito. Along with Kenroku-en and Koraku-en, it is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Kairakuen was built by the local lord Tokugawa Nariaki. Unlike Japan's other two great landscape gardens Kairakuen served not only for the enjoyment of the ruling lord, but was open to the public. Kairakuen is most attractive during the plum blossom or ume season, which usually takes place in late February and early March..
    kairakuen-6.jpg
  • Kairaku-en "A park to be enjoyed together" is a Japanese garden located in Mito. Along with Kenroku-en and Koraku-en, it is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Kairakuen was built by the local lord Tokugawa Nariaki. Unlike Japan's other two great landscape gardens Kairakuen served not only for the enjoyment of the ruling lord, but was open to the public. Kairakuen is most attractive during the plum blossom or ume season, which usually takes place in late February and early March..
    kairakuen-7.jpg
  • Kyu Shiba Rikyu Garden features the typical elements of a Japanese landscape garden including a pond and man-made hills symbolizing the ocean, lakes and mountains of the real world and walking trails to enjoy the garden from various perspectives..During the Edo Period, the garden was built on land reclaimed from Tokyo Bay and served as the residence of various feudal lords and government officials.
    kyu-shiba-rikyu-garden-01.jpg
  • Byodo-in is a Buddhist temple in the city of Uji in Kyoto prefecture, a National Treasure and a World Heritage Site.  Its outline is featured on the ¥10 coin. Built in 998 AD during the Heian period, Byodo-in was originally a private residence like many Japanese temples.  It was converted into a temple by the Fujiwara clan in 1052. The Phoenix Hall, the great statue of Amida inside it, and several other items at Byodoin are Japanese National Treasures. UNESCO listed the building as a World Heritage Site in 1994.
    byodo-in-03.jpg
  • Kairaku-en "A park to be enjoyed together" is a Japanese garden located in Mito. Along with Kenroku-en and Koraku-en, it is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Kairakuen was built by the local lord Tokugawa Nariaki. Unlike Japan's other two great landscape gardens Kairakuen served not only for the enjoyment of the ruling lord, but was open to the public. Kairakuen is most attractive during the plum blossom or ume season, which usually takes place in late February and early March..
    kairakuen-3.jpg
  • Kairaku-en Garden, literrally  "A park to be enjoyed together" is a Japanese garden located in Mito, Japan. Along with Kenroku-en and Koraku-en, Kairaku-en is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Built in the year 1841 by lord Tokugawa Nariaki,  and though worth a visit throughout the year, the garden is at its most attractive during the plum blossom season, which takes place in early March. More than 3000 plum trees have been planted here. Besides the plum tree forest, Kairakuen also features a bamboo grove, cedar woods and the Kobuntei, a traditional Japanese style building - its name is derived from  the word plum.
    kairakuen-9.jpg
  • Sogenchi Pond Garden - Tenryuji has been ranked first among Kyoto's "Five Great Zen Temples".  Muso Soseki, the temple's founding abbot and famous garden designer, created Tenryuji's landscape garden which, unlike the temple buildings, survived the many fires and is considered one of the oldest of its kind.  This is a "borrowed landscape" garden, taking in the background scenery of the hills of  Arashiyama as part of the garden's composition. Sogenchi pond and Ishigumi rock clusters in the garden are this pond garden's main ingredients and what makes it so special.
    tenryuji-13.jpg
  • Kairaku-en "A park to be enjoyed together" is a Japanese garden located in Mito. Along with Kenroku-en and Koraku-en, it is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Kairakuen was built by the local lord Tokugawa Nariaki. Unlike Japan's other two great landscape gardens Kairakuen served not only for the enjoyment of the ruling lord, but was open to the public. Kairakuen is most attractive during the plum blossom or ume season, which usually takes place in late February and early March..
    kairakuen-1.jpg
  • Kairaku-en  "A park to be enjoyed together" is a Japanese garden located in Mito. Along with Kenroku-en and Koraku-en, it is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Kairakuen was built by the local lord Tokugawa Nariaki. Unlike Japan's other two great landscape gardens Kairakuen served not only for the enjoyment of the ruling lord, but was open to the public. Kairakuen is most attractive during the plum blossom or ume season, which usually takes place in late February and early March..
    kairakuen-2.jpg
  • Kairaku-en Garden, literrally  "A park to be enjoyed together" is a Japanese garden located in Mito, Japan. Along with Kenroku-en and Koraku-en, Kairaku-en is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Built in the year 1841 by lord Tokugawa Nariaki,  and though worth a visit throughout the year, the garden is at its most attractive during the plum blossom season, which takes place in early March. More than 3000 plum trees have been planted here. Besides the plum tree forest, Kairakuen also features a bamboo grove, cedar woods and the Kobuntei, a traditional Japanese style building - its name is derived from  the word plum.
    kairakuen-5.jpg
  • Kairaku-en Garden, literally  "A park to be enjoyed together" is a Japanese garden located in Mito, Japan. Along with Kenroku-en and Koraku-en, Kairaku-en is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Built in the year 1841 by lord Tokugawa Nariaki,  and though worth a visit throughout the year, the garden is at its most attractive during the plum blossom season, which takes place in early March. More than 3000 plum trees have been planted here. Besides the plum tree forest, Kairakuen also features a bamboo grove, cedar woods and the Kobuntei, a traditional Japanese style building - its name is derived from  the word plum.
    kairakuen-4.jpg
  • Byodo-in is a Buddhist temple in the city of Uji in Kyoto prefecture, a National Treasure and a World Heritage Site.  Its outline is featured on the ¥10 coin. Built in 998 AD during the Heian period, Byodo-in was originally a private residence like many Japanese temples.  It was converted into a temple by the Fujiwara clan in 1052. The Phoenix Hall, the great statue of Amida inside it, and several other items at Byodoin are Japanese National Treasures. UNESCO listed the building as a World Heritage Site in 1994.
    byodo-in-04.jpg
  • Kairaku-en Garden, literrally  "A park to be enjoyed together" is a Japanese garden located in Mito, Japan. Along with Kenroku-en and Koraku-en, Kairaku-en is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Built in the year 1841 by lord Tokugawa Nariaki,  and though worth a visit throughout the year, the garden is at its most attractive during the plum blossom season, which takes place in early March. More than 3000 plum trees have been planted here. Besides the plum tree forest, Kairakuen also features a bamboo grove, cedar woods and the Kobuntei, a traditional Japanese style building - its name is derived from  the word plum.
    kairakuen-8.jpg
  • Shofu-en has three famous gardens: Iwakura, Horai and Kyokusui. These modern Japanese gardens were designed by Mirei Shigemori during the Showa era. They are among the greatest of Japanese gardens designed after the Meiji era. Mirei designed them with a combination of rocks, and the opposite concepts of "stillness" and "movement" in harmony.
    matsuo-shrine-garden-10.jpg
  • Entoku-in Garden was originally part of Fushimijo Castle and also a sub-temple of Kodaiji Temple. It was founded by a nephew of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The northern dry garden shows the essence of Momoyama style and is a registered National Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese government. It was built in 1605 and dedicated as a Rinzai sect temple in 1633..
    entoku-in-3.jpg
  • Shofu-en has three famous gardens: Iwakura, Horai and Kyokusui. These modern Japanese gardens were designed by Mirei Shigemori during the Showa era. They are among the greatest of Japanese gardens designed after the Meiji era. Mirei designed them with a combination of rocks, and the opposite concepts of "stillness" and "movement" in harmony.
    matsuo-shrine-garden-1.jpg
  • Shofu-en has three famous gardens: Iwakura, Horai and Kyokusui. These modern Japanese gardens were designed by Mirei Shigemori during the Showa era. They are among the greatest of Japanese gardens designed after the Meiji era. Mirei designed them with a combination of rocks, and the opposite concepts of "stillness" and "movement" in harmony.
    matsuo-shrine-garden-3.jpg
  • Ryotei Teahouse - This sukiya-style teahouse was built projecting out onto the pond, giving the gardens a true Japanese atmosphere. The open-walled teahouse was originally built by the Iwasakis.to host British dignitary Marshall Kitchener who visited Japan in 1909. It survived earthquake and war, still standing today. It was designated a historical.structure by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 2005. Kiyosumi Teien Garden was the site of the residence of the Edo Period business magnate, Kinokuniya Bunzaemon. Later it became the residence of the Edo of the Lord of Sekiyado castle, Shimofusa-no-kuni the period when the basic form of the garden came into existence.  In 1878,  Iwasaki Yataro, chose this property to use a garden for the entertainment of important guests. After the design and construction phases ended, the garden opened in 1880 under the name of "Fukagawa Shimbokuen." In later years, the waters of the Sumida River were brought into the grounds to make the pond. Hills and waterless waterfalls were constructed and famous rocks from all over Japan were brought in to embellish the garden. The garden was completed in the Meiji Period and developed into a famous strolling garden centered around a large pond
    tobi-ishi-4.jpg
  • Entoku-in Garden was originally part of Fushimijo Castle and also a sub-temple of Kodaiji Temple. It was founded by a nephew of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The northern dry garden shows the essence of Momoyama style and is a registered National Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese government. It was built in 1605 and dedicated as a Rinzai sect temple in 1633..
    entoku-in-1.jpg
  • Shofu-en has three famous gardens: Iwakura, Horai and Kyokusui. These modern Japanese gardens were designed by Mirei Shigemori during the Showa era. They are among the greatest of Japanese gardens designed after the Meiji era. Mirei designed them with a combination of rocks, and the opposite concepts of "stillness" and "movement" in harmony.
    matsuo-shrine-garden-2.jpg
  • Shofu-en has three famous gardens: Iwakura, Horai and Kyokusui. These modern Japanese gardens were designed by Mirei Shigemori during the Showa era. They are among the greatest of Japanese gardens designed after the Meiji era. Mirei designed them with a combination of rocks, and the opposite concepts of "stillness" and "movement" in harmony.
    matsuo-shrine-garden-6.jpg
  • Rikugien Bridge, Autumn Colors - the name of this garden means the six traditional elements essential to great poetry.  A wonderful, romantic sentiment in itself for a garden stroll but especially apt because the concept has been followed through to the design and layout of this garden which depicts 88 scenes from a classic Japanese poem.  It does so by use of the pond, stone islands, teahouses and bridges.
    rikugien-8.jpg
  • Hokokuji Garden Stone Lantern - Ishidoro lanterns are usually used to decorate Japanese gardens, shrines and temples rather than for providing light, although occasionally they are lit up with candles inside during festivals.   Ishidoro Lanterns were introduced to Japan via China in the 6th century.  The earliest lanterns, found only in temple grounds, were designed to hold the flame representing Buddha.  Light  helps us overcome the darkness of ignorance. Ishidoro were originally used at temples, gardens and shrines.  Around the 16th century stone lanterns were adopted  and placed in the gardens of teahouses.
    hokokuji-12.jpg
  • Shofu-en has three famous gardens: Iwakura, Horai and Kyokusui. These modern Japanese gardens were designed by Mirei Shigemori during the Showa era. They are among the greatest of Japanese gardens designed after the Meiji era. Mirei designed them with a combination of rocks, and the opposite concepts of "stillness" and "movement" in harmony.
    matsuo-shrine-garden-7.jpg
  • Shofu-en has three famous gardens: Iwakura, Horai and Kyokusui. These modern Japanese gardens were designed by Mirei Shigemori during the Showa era. They are among the greatest of Japanese gardens designed after the Meiji era. Mirei designed them with a combination of rocks, and the opposite concepts of "stillness" and "movement" in harmony.
    matsuo-shrine-garden-5.jpg
  • Shofu-en has three famous gardens: Iwakura, Horai and Kyokusui. These modern Japanese gardens were designed by Mirei Shigemori during the Showa era. They are among the greatest of Japanese gardens designed after the Meiji era. Mirei designed them with a combination of rocks, and the opposite concepts of "stillness" and "movement" in harmony.
    matsuo-shrine-garden-9.jpg
  • Japanese Maple and Autumn Colors at Koto-In Garden.  Koto-in was established in 1601 by Tadaoki Hosokawa, a famous warrior under Toyotomi Hideyoshi.  He studied Zen under the Daitoku-ji abbot, Seigan, and was a disciple of tea master, Sen no Rikyu. Koto-in is home to two famous tea houses, Shoko-ken and Horai.
    koto-in-garden-2.jpg
  • Kyu Furukawa Garden was originally the grounds for the  residence of a famous Meiji Period notable, Mutsu Munemitsu.  Ogawa Jihei, a designer of Japanese gardens from Kyoto, created the garden renowned for its beauty that matched the level of the Western style residence. The Furukawa garden is regarded as a typical example of the gardens of the Taisho Period.
    kyu-furukawa-garden-06.jpg
  • Hama Rikyu, the garden of a feudal lord's residence during the Edo Period, is one of Tokyo's most attractive landscape gardens. It is located next to Tokyo Bay, beside the futuristic Shiodome district.  Seawater ponds, former duck hunting grounds, forested areas and a teahouse in the middle of the pond are some of the park's attractions. Furthermore, the contrast between the traditional gardens with Shiodome's skyscrapers in the background is spectacular.
    hama-rikkyu-1.jpg
  • Shorazon Hill at Koishikawa Korakuen Garden - one of Tokyo's oldest and most beautiful Japanese landscape gardens. It was built by close relatives of the Tokugawa Shogun in the early Edo Period..Like most traditional Japanese gardens, Koishikawa Korakuen attempts to reproduce famous landscapes from China and Japan in miniature, using a pond, stones, plants and a man made hill.
    koishikawa-korakuen-1.jpg
  • Koishikawa Korakuen Garden is one of Tokyo's oldest and most beautiful Japanese landscape gardens. It was built by close relatives of the Tokugawa Shogun in the early Edo Period..Like most traditional Japanese gardens, Koishikawa Korakuen attempts to reproduce famous landscapes from China and Japan in miniature, using a pond, stones, plants and a man made hill.
    koishikawa-korakuen-4.jpg
  • Suizenji Garden is strolling style Japanese garden located in Kumamoto Its centerpiece is a tsukiyama representation of Mount Fuji.  Lord Hosokawa began construction of the garden in 1636 as a teahouse retreat.  Hosokawa selected the site for the spring fed pool that provided excellent tea water. The Tea Arbor and Kokindenju Room are nearly 400 years old.
    suizenji-3.jpg
  • Sanbo-in is a Buddhist temple in southern Kyoto, famous for the quality of its Japanese garden.  The garden is designed as a strolling garden with a large pond and several paths and bridges and said to contain over 700 stones.  One of the stones, called the Fujito, is said to have cost over 5,000 bushels of rice to obtain. Sanb-in is also a noteworthy illustration of a landscape garden which is designed for viewing from a specific perspective within a building. Laid out in the Momoyama period, the garden depicts "fortuitous crane," the "tortoise" and the "isle of eternal youth" poetic terms that identify specific ways in which stones and ponds are poised in a prescribed, esoteric relationship. .Toyotomi Hideyoshi designed this garden as a venue for an extravagant cherry blossom viewing party.  Sanbo-in is subtemple of Daigoji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Treasure of Japan. IMAGE UNAVAILABLE FOR SALE IN JAPAN
    sanbo-in-5.jpg
  • Sanbo-in is a Buddhist temple in southern Kyoto, famous for the quality of its Japanese garden.  The garden is designed as a strolling garden with a large pond and several paths and bridges and said to contain over 700 stones.  One of the stones, called the Fujito, is said to have cost over 5,000 bushels of rice to obtain. Sanb-in is also a noteworthy illustration of a landscape garden which is designed for viewing from a specific perspective within a building. Laid out in the Momoyama period, the garden depicts "fortuitous crane," the "tortoise" and the "isle of eternal youth" poetic terms that identify specific ways in which stones and ponds are poised in a prescribed, esoteric relationship. .Toyotomi Hideyoshi designed this garden as a venue for an extravagant cherry blossom viewing party.  Sanbo-in is subtemple of Daigoji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Treasure of Japan. IMAGE UNAVAILABLE FOR SALE IN JAPAN
    sanbo-in-3.jpg
  • Sanbo-in is a Buddhist temple in southern Kyoto, famous for the quality of its Japanese garden.  The garden is designed as a strolling garden with a large pond and several paths and bridges and said to contain over 700 stones.  One of the stones, called the Fujito, is said to have cost over 5,000 bushels of rice to obtain. Sanb-in is also a noteworthy illustration of a landscape garden which is designed for viewing from a specific perspective within a building. Laid out in the Momoyama period, the garden depicts "fortuitous crane," the "tortoise" and the "isle of eternal youth" poetic terms that identify specific ways in which stones and ponds are poised in a prescribed, esoteric relationship. .Toyotomi Hideyoshi designed this garden as a venue for an extravagant cherry blossom viewing party.  Sanbo-in is subtemple of Daigoji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Treasure of Japan. IMAGE UNAVAILABLE FOR SALE IN JAPAN
    sanbo-in-4.jpg
  • Sanbo-in is a Buddhist temple in southern Kyoto, famous for the quality of its Japanese garden.  The garden is designed as a strolling garden with a large pond and several paths and bridges and said to contain over 700 stones.  One of the stones, called the Fujito, is said to have cost over 5,000 bushels of rice to obtain. Sanb-in is also a noteworthy illustration of a landscape garden which is designed for viewing from a specific perspective within a building. Laid out in the Momoyama period, the garden depicts "fortuitous crane," the "tortoise" and the "isle of eternal youth" poetic terms that identify specific ways in which stones and ponds are poised in a prescribed, esoteric relationship. .Toyotomi Hideyoshi designed this garden as a venue for an extravagant cherry blossom viewing party.  Sanbo-in is subtemple of Daigoji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Treasure of Japan. IMAGE UNAVAILABLE FOR SALE IN JAPAN
    sanbo-in-10.jpg
  • Sanb-in is a Buddhist temple in southern Kyoto, famous for the quality of its Japanese garden.  The garden is designed as a strolling garden with a large pond and several paths and bridges and said to contain over 700 stones.  One of the stones, called the Fujito, is said to have cost over 5,000 bushels of rice to obtain. Sanb-in is also a noteworthy illustration of a landscape garden which is designed for viewing from a specific perspective within a building. Laid out in the Momoyama period, the garden depicts "fortuitous crane," the "tortoise" and the "isle of eternal youth" poetic terms that identify specific ways in which stones and ponds are poised in a prescribed, esoteric relationship. .Toyotomi Hideyoshi designed this garden as a venue for an extravagant cherry blossom viewing party.  Sanbo-in is subtemple of Daigoji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Treasure of Japan. IMAGE UNAVAILABLE FOR SALE IN JAPAN
    sanbo-in-2.jpg
  • Sanbo-in is a Buddhist temple in southern Kyoto, famous for the quality of its Japanese garden.  The garden is designed as a strolling garden with a large pond and several paths and bridges and said to contain over 700 stones.  One of the stones, called the Fujito, is said to have cost over 5,000 bushels of rice to obtain. Sanb-in is also a noteworthy illustration of a landscape garden which is designed for viewing from a specific perspective within a building. Laid out in the Momoyama period, the garden depicts "fortuitous crane," the "tortoise" and the "isle of eternal youth" poetic terms that identify specific ways in which stones and ponds are poised in a prescribed, esoteric relationship. .Toyotomi Hideyoshi designed this garden as a venue for an extravagant cherry blossom viewing party.  Sanbo-in is subtemple of Daigoji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Treasure of Japan. IMAGE UNAVAILABLE FOR SALE IN JAPAN
    sanbo-in-1.jpg
  • Sanbo-in is a Buddhist temple in southern Kyoto, famous for the quality of its Japanese garden.  The garden is designed as a strolling garden with a large pond and several paths and bridges and said to contain over 700 stones.  One of the stones, called the Fujito, is said to have cost over 5,000 bushels of rice to obtain. Sanb-in is also a noteworthy illustration of a landscape garden which is designed for viewing from a specific perspective within a building. Laid out in the Momoyama period, the garden depicts "fortuitous crane," the "tortoise" and the "isle of eternal youth" poetic terms that identify specific ways in which stones and ponds are poised in a prescribed, esoteric relationship. .Toyotomi Hideyoshi designed this garden as a venue for an extravagant cherry blossom viewing party.  Sanbo-in is subtemple of Daigoji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Treasure of Japan. IMAGE UNAVAILABLE FOR SALE IN JAPAN
    sanbo-in-6.jpg
  • Sanbo-in is a Buddhist temple in southern Kyoto, famous for the quality of its Japanese garden.  The garden is designed as a strolling garden with a large pond and several paths and bridges and said to contain over 700 stones.  One of the stones, called the Fujito, is said to have cost over 5,000 bushels of rice to obtain. Sanb-in is also a noteworthy illustration of a landscape garden which is designed for viewing from a specific perspective within a building. Laid out in the Momoyama period, the garden depicts "fortuitous crane," the "tortoise" and the "isle of eternal youth" poetic terms that identify specific ways in which stones and ponds are poised in a prescribed, esoteric relationship. .Toyotomi Hideyoshi designed this garden as a venue for an extravagant cherry blossom viewing party.  Sanbo-in is subtemple of Daigoji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Treasure of Japan. IMAGE UNAVAILABLE FOR SALE IN JAPAN
    sanbo-in-9.jpg
  • Reiun-in was established in 1390 and has always had a tradtional Japanese garden on its grounds since its establishment but unfortunately the original was destroyed.  However, there was a picture taken of the original during the Edo period, and modern Japanese garden designer Mirei Shigemori redesigned the garden using the original as a base.  The garden was meant to express the true aspect of the great universe and is called Garden of Nine Mountains and Eight Seas
    reiun-in-garden-1.jpg
  • Sanbo-in is a Buddhist temple in southern Kyoto, famous for the quality of its Japanese garden.  The garden is designed as a strolling garden with a large pond and several paths and bridges and said to contain over 700 stones.  One of the stones, called the Fujito, is said to have cost over 5,000 bushels of rice to obtain. Sanb-in is also a noteworthy illustration of a landscape garden which is designed for viewing from a specific perspective within a building. Laid out in the Momoyama period, the garden depicts "fortuitous crane," the "tortoise" and the "isle of eternal youth" poetic terms that identify specific ways in which stones and ponds are poised in a prescribed, esoteric relationship. .Toyotomi Hideyoshi designed this garden as a venue for an extravagant cherry blossom viewing party.  Sanbo-in is subtemple of Daigoji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Treasure of Japan.IMAGE UNAVAILABLE FOR SALE IN JAPAN
    sanbo-in-8.jpg
  • Reiun-in was established in 1390 and has always had a tradtional Japanese garden on its grounds since its establishment but unfortunately the original was destroyed. However, there was a picture taken of the original during the Edo period, and modern Japanese garden designer Mirei Shigemori redesigned the garden using the original as a base. The garden was meant to express the true aspect of the great universe and is called Garden of Nine Mountains and Eight Seas
    reiun-in-garden-2.jpg
  • Motonobu-no-Niwa Garden at Taizoin - Motonobu Kano, the Master of Zen and also a painter of the Muromachi period, designed this garden and as such, it retains a very graceful, elegant and painterly ambience, giving it a unique air. The background scenery of the garden consists mainly of camellia, pine, Japanese umbrella pine, and other evergreens, presumably planted to present an "eternal beauty" that remains the same throughout the changing seasons.
    taizo-in-20.jpg
  • Sanbo-in is a Buddhist temple in southern Kyoto, famous for the quality of its Japanese garden.  The garden is designed as a strolling garden with a large pond and several paths and bridges and said to contain over 700 stones.  One of the stones, called the Fujito, is said to have cost over 5,000 bushels of rice to obtain. Sanb-in is also a noteworthy illustration of a landscape garden which is designed for viewing from a specific perspective within a building. Laid out in the Momoyama period, the garden depicts "fortuitous crane," the "tortoise" and the "isle of eternal youth" poetic terms that identify specific ways in which stones and ponds are poised in a prescribed, esoteric relationship. .Toyotomi Hideyoshi designed this garden as a venue for an extravagant cherry blossom viewing party.  Sanbo-in is subtemple of Daigoji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Treasure of Japan.IMAGE UNAVAILABLE FOR SALE IN JAPAN
    sanbo-in-7.jpg
  • Japanese koi ponds or carp ponds are a standard feature in many Japanese gardens. In Japan, carp represent strength and are used as a symbol of boyhood.
    carp-pond.jpg
  • Cherry blossoms and crane at Tsurugaoka Shrine, Kamakura.  A cherry blossom is the flower of any of several trees of genus Prunus, particularly the Japanese Cherry, Prunus serrulata, which is called sakura in Japanese.  Japan has a wide variety of cherry blossoms with well over 200 types can be found there.[ The most popular variety of cherry blossom in Japan is the Somei Yoshino. Its flowers are nearly white, tinged with the palest pink, and bloom and fall within a week, before the leaves come out.
    cherry-blossoms-sakura.jpg
  • Zuiho-in Zen Garden's most intriguing feature is its main rock garden called "Dozuka-tei" which is raked into appealing patterns to suggest water ripples and waves lapping against rock formations representing the Hohrai Mountains. It was designed by Mirei Shigemori and is considered one of his most important modern Japanese gardens.
    zuiho-in-11.jpg
  • The Mirei Shigemori Residence is a traditional townhouse dating from the middle Edo period with an adjoining garden and tea ceremony pavilions. Both garden and pavilions were designed by Mirei Shigemori, seminal 20th century designer of Japanese gardens. The main garden consists of four rock configurations symbolizing the Elysian islands - Hojo, Eiju, Horai and Koryo placed on the sand garden. Horai island consists of a crane style rock and Hojo, a tortoise style rock composite. The stones known as blue rock are from Shikoku island. The garden is overlooked by a veranda with shoji screens, tatami mats and a hanging paper light made specially by Isamu Noguchi for this venue.
    mirei-garden-museum-3.jpg
  • Kiyosumi Garden dates back to the Edo-era. It is belived to have been the residence of business tycoon Kinokuniya Bunzaemon. In the Meiji Era, Iwasaki Yataro, founder of Mitsubishi acquired the land. In 1878, Yataro Iwasaki rebuild the garden and imported 55 huge rocks from all over Japan. The garden was used for entertaining guest and company gatherings.  Nowadays, the garden is one of the most pleasant traditional Japanese garden in Tokyo. There are three big islands and a teahouse on the pond. You can enjoy hopping from one stone to another.  As you amble around the shores and cross the bridges, you can admire the carp and curious turtles.
    kiyosumi-9.jpg
  • The Mirei Shigemori Residence is a traditional townhouse dating from the middle Edo period with an adjoining garden and tea ceremony pavilions. Both garden and pavilions were designed by Mirei Shigemori, seminal 20th century designer of Japanese gardens. The main garden consists of four rock configurations symbolizing the Elysian islands - Hojo, Eiju, Horai and Koryo placed on the sand garden. Horai island consists of a crane style rock and Hojo, a tortoise style rock composite. The stones known as blue rock are from Shikoku island. The garden is overlooked by a veranda with shoji screens, tatami mats and a hanging paper light made specially by Isamu Noguchi for this venue.
    mirei-garden-museum-1.jpg
  • The Mirei Shigemori Residence is a traditional townhouse dating from the middle Edo period with an adjoining garden and tea ceremony pavilions. Both garden and pavilions were designed by Mirei Shigemori, seminal 20th century designer of Japanese gardens. The main garden consists of four rock configurations symbolizing the Elysian islands - Hojo, Eiju, Horai and Koryo placed on the sand garden. Horai island consists of a crane style rock and Hojo, a tortoise style rock composite. The stones known as blue rock are from Shikoku island. The garden is overlooked by a veranda with shoji screens, tatami mats and a hanging paper light made specially by Isamu Noguchi for this venue.
    mirei-garden-museum-5.jpg
  • Autumn Leaves at Tofukuji Temple is the head temple of the Tofukuji School of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism.  Its original buildings were burned but were rebuilt in the 15th century according to the original plans. About this time it flourished as one of the Five Great Temples of Kyoto.  Tofukuji is renowned for its maple trees in autumn, a favorite spot for Japanese leaf peepers.
    tofukuji-6.jpg
  • Kimono at Sankeien a garden, once the private domain of Hara Sankei.  Sankeien is one of Japan's most exquisite gardens although it is made up of various Japanese garden components from various sources in Japan. The cherry blossoms in spring make Sankeien a favorite spot in Yokohama for residents and visitors alike.  Besides the landmark three storied pagoda, koi ponds, streams and an elegant feudal lord's residence, numerous tea houses are scattered throughout the expanse.
    sankeien-17.jpg
  • Japanese Maple and Autumn Colors at Koto-In Garden, Daitokuji Temple, Kyoto.  Koto-in was established in 1601 by Tadaoki Hosokawa. He was a famous warrior under Toyotomi Hideyoshi, studied Zen under the Daitoku-ji abbot, Seigan, and was a distinguished disciple of tea master, Sen no Rikyu. Koto-in is home to two famous tea houses, Shoko-ken and Horai.
    koto-in-garden-1.jpg
  • Kodai-ji Temple is located at the foot of Higashiyama Ryozen Mountains in Kyoto. It is officially called Kodaiji Jushozenji Temple and was established in 1606.  Tokugawa Ieyasu - the first Tokugawa shogun - financed the construction of the temple resulting in its magnificent appearance.  Many of its buildings and tea houses.  Kodaiji's garden is said to have been designed by the landscape garden designer Kobori Enshu. The garden is designated by the Japanese Government as a historical site and a place of scenic beauty.  Kodaiji south garden is a karesansui or dry rock garden that features raked gravel punctuated by conical formations and surrounded by borders of moss and stone.
    kodaiji-3.jpg
  • Entoku-in Garden was originally part of Fushimijo Castle and also a sub-temple of Kodaiji Temple. It was founded by a nephew of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The northern dry garden shows the essence of Momoyama style and is a registered National Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese government. It was built in 1605 and dedicated as a Rinzai sect temple in 1633..
    entoku-in-4.jpg
  • Taizo-in, one of the many sub-temples at Miyoshinji Temple, is well-known for its spectacular Japanese gardens but also for opening its doors to visitors and casual tourists in order to teaching Zen Buddhism, including "Zen Experience" visits which include calligraphy sessions, tea ceremony, and a vegetarian lunch called shojin ryori - a special gourmet assortment of vegetarian dishes.
    taizo-in-19.jpg
  • Shosei-en Garden is a traditional Japanese formal garden thought to have been built in the ninth century on the site of Prince Minamoto Notoru's mansion. Fires in 1858 and 1864 burnt the walls and interior structures to the ground. They were thereafter restored, and in 1938 designated a National Historic Site. Within the grounds, there are several tea houses, a large pond, a small waterfall, many stone lanterns, and bridges - all a mere 10 minute walk from the main Kyoto Station and the bullet trains.
    shosei-en-2.jpg
  • Kodai-ji Temple is located at the foot of Higashiyama Ryozen Mountains in Kyoto. It is officially called Kodaiji Jushozenji Temple and was established in 1606.  Tokugawa Ieyasu - the first Tokugawa shogun - financed the construction of the temple resulting in its magnificent appearance.  Many of its buildings and tea houses.  Kodaiji's garden is said to have been designed by the landscape garden designer Kobori Enshu. The garden is designated by the Japanese Government as a historical site and a place of scenic beauty.  Kodaiji south garden is a karesansui or dry rock garden that features raked gravel punctuated by conical formations and surrounded by borders of moss and stone.
    kodaiji-4.jpg
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