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  • Engetsukyo Bridge, or "full moon bridge" built in the Chinese style at Koishikawa Korakuen Garden in Tokyo.  It has this name because a full moon is formed by the arch of the bridge and its reflection in the pond beneath.
    koishikawa-korakuen-24.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-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-07.jpg
  • Engetsukyo Bridge at Ritsurin - 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-15.jpg
  • Engetsukyo Bridge at Ritsurin - 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-12.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-23.jpg
  • Ninomaru garden was designed by the famous landscape architect and tea master, Kobori Enshu. It is located between the two main rings of fortifications, next to the palace of the same name. The garden has a large pond with three islands and features numerous carefully placed stones and topiary pine trees.  Nijo Castle and its garden are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
    ninomaru-7.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
  • 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-06.jpg
  • Japanese Tea House at the Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate park was originally part of the Pan Pacific Exposition.  One of the craftsmen of the Japanese village, Makoto Hagiwara, helped design the Japanese village, and later he became responsible for the majority of the Japanese Tea Garden.  Hagiwara and his family became residents of one of the buildings in the garden, living within Golden Gate Park at the time.
    golden-gate-tea-9.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-21.jpg
  • The Adachi Museum of Art was based on the private collection of Zenko Adachi.  Adachi collected Japanese paintings, ceramics and scrolls.  Adachi himself was an aficionado of Japanese gardens and collected each pine tree and each stone for the garden himself from around Japan.   In this way he created a beautiful garden filled with his own vision and passion.  Adachi believed that Japanese gardens were "as beautiful as pictures” and even framed one of the gardens in one of the museums rooms as if it is a painting itself. Adachi Museum Garden has been selected as the best garden in Japan year after year since 2003, by the Journal of Japanese Gardens Shisai Project.
    adachi-garden-01.jpg
  • Komyoji is a popular temple with locals in the Kamakura area for its abundant cherry blossoms in spring, frequent weekend flea markets, and free parking near the beach. Komyoji Garden has a rare example of a dry garden, sometimes called a Zen garden, as this temple is not of the Zen sect of Buddhism.  In addition to the temple's zen dry karesansui garden, on the north side of the temple is the pond garden, which comes to life in spring with sakura cherry trees.
    kamakura-komyoji-01.jpg
  • Showa Kinen Park is a large space surrounded by greenery in the outer suburbs of Tokyo.  A traditional Japanese garden was created in 1997 in a corner of this spacious park.  The strolling garden surrounds a pond, overlooking a tea house.   The delicacy of traditional Japanese landscaping takes account of details as small as a single flower plant or small stone. Kanfu-tei is the tea house built in the Sukiya style in harmony with the pond garden. It was built using mostly cypress special techniques such as roofing with cypress bark and special joints at pillars and beams.
    showa-kinen-1.jpg
  • Erin-ji Garden - Erin-ji is a Zen temple set in the mountains of Yamanashi Prefecture built in 1330. Zen priest and garden designer Muso Soseki was asked to establish and design the temple and its garden. It is now a temple of the Myoshin-ji branch of the Rinzai Zen Buddhism.  The temple's pond garden is best viewed from either the temple's tatami rooms or connecting hallways.
    erin-ji-garden-8.jpg
  • Tenshozan Renge-in Komyo-ji usually referred to only as Komyoji is a Buddhist temple of the Jodo sect in Kamakura.  The temple is dedicated to the training of Buddhist priests and scholarly research.  Although Komyoji is a Jodo sect temple, it has certain features normally found only in a Zen temple, that is a pond garden, dry rock garden and a temple gate.
    komyoji-garden-1.jpg
  • Tonogayato Garden is a landscape type  garden in Kokubunji, Tokyo. It was built for the vice-president of Manchurian Railway.  In 1929 the estate was bought by the founder of Mitsubishi and is now owned by Tokyo Metropolitan Parks who maintain it.  There is a teahouse on the garden's grounds that can be rented for tea ceremony.
    tonogayato-4.jpg
  • Hase-Dera Garden - Since the year 736, Hase-Dera Temple has been known as the 4th station among the 33 holy places in the Kanto area, and one of the main stops for Buddhist pilgrims in Kamakura, situated down the street from the Great Buddha of Kamakura. Hase-Dera has landscaped Japanese gardens, a giant prayer wheel, jizo caves, a bamboo grove and a vegetarian restaurant up the hill with a bird-eye view of Kamakura and the Shonan Coast.
    hasedera-garden-05.jpg
  • Hase-Dera Dry Garden - Since 736, Hase-Dera has been considered the fourth station among 33 holy places in the Kanto region of Japan, and one of the main stops for Buddhist pilgrims in Kamakura.  Located near the Great Buddha of Kamakura. Hase-Dera has landscaped Japanese gardens, a giant prayer wheel,  a bamboo grove and a vegetarian restaurant with a bird-eye view of Kamakura and the Shonan Coast.
    hasedera-garden-02.jpg
  • Momijiyama Garden is located near the ruins of Sunpu Castle in Shizuoka.  Garden of the Village is made up of various flowers, plants and a wooden pavilion. The zigzag wooden bridge is surrounded by irises in late May and June.  Garden of the Mountain Village is composed of a hill meant to resemble Mt. Fuji.  Surrounding the hill are azalea bushes arranged to as to look like the terraced tea fields of Shizuoka.  Shizuoka’s claims to fame are green tea and Mt Fuji.  Next, Garden of the Sea or is meant to be viewed between the pines facing the pond with the white beach below, so as to resemble the seashore of Miwa. Stones in the pond and the opposite shore represent Izu coastline, also part of Shizuoka Prefecture and known for its seascapes.  Finally the Garden of the Mountain is composed of two small waterfalls meant to symbolize mountain scenes of Japan.
    momijiyama-03.jpg
  • Komyoji is a popular temple with locals in the Kamakura area for its abundant cherry blossoms in spring, frequent weekend flea markets, and free parking near the beach. Komyoji Garden has a rare example of a dry garden, sometimes called a Zen garden, as this temple is not of the Zen sect of Buddhism.  In addition to the temple's zen dry karesansui garden, on the north side of the temple is the pond garden, which comes to life in spring with sakura cherry trees.
    kamakura-komyoji-06.jpg
  • Soribashi and Hirabashi Bridges at Shomyoji - Shomyoji was built by Sanetoki Hojo during the Kamakura period, and was made the Hojo family temple of the Kanazawa area. The Jodo style garden with Ajiike Pond in front of the main temple is its most unique feature when considering the arched bridge. The temple's bell was portrayed in the woodblock print "Shomyo-no-Bansho," one of eight prints depicting views of Kanazawa by Hiroshige Utagawa.
    shomyogi-bridge-1.jpg
  • Yamanashi Prefecture is famous for its rock crystals and many world-class lapidary experts.  It should not be surprising that a rock garden, for which the Japanese are famous, should be born.  The main difference here is that the stones are not austere white pebbles, but multicolored ones from local crystals.  The Jewel Dream Garden is run by a local jewelry company that sponsors it and the adjacent Jewelry Museum.
    shingen-jewel-garden-7.jpg
  • Kyu Furukawa Garden was originally the domain of a Meiji Period notable Mutsu Munemitsu. but later became the property of the Furukawa family.  Ogawa Jihei  sometimes known as Niwashi Ueji designed the garden renowned for its beauty. The Furukawa garden is regarded as an example of gardens of the Taisho Period of Japan.
    kyu-furukawa-10.jpg
  • Tome Ishi is a stone is wrapped in rope and placed in a path or in front of a gate. They're sometimes called "stop stones" sekimori-ishi indicating that entry is forbidden. They are commonly found at temples,  tea houses or traditional Japanese gardens.
    stopping-stone-2.jpg
  • Ishitani Residence Garden - During the Edo period Chizu flourished as a post station. Among the quaint buildings in Chizu Town the residence of the Ishitani family, an upper class family.  Japanese, gardens are often designed to be viewed from a sitting position. The most celebrated garden at Ishitani Residence is the Chisen Garden, with plants artfully arranged around a pond, the Karesansui Garden, a dry landscape garden that uses no water to represent mountains and streams, and the Shibafu Garden showing the charm of green lawns. The space from indoors to the veranda and the gardens are connected in a gentle way.  In this way Japanese can appreciate living alongside nature by viewing from within the home.
    ishitani-garden-6.jpg
  • The Adachi Museum of Art was based on the private collection of Zenko Adachi.  Adachi collected Japanese paintings, ceramics and scrolls.  Adachi himself was an aficionado of Japanese gardens and collected each pine tree and each stone for the garden himself from around Japan.   In this way he created a beautiful garden filled with his own vision and passion.  Adachi believed that Japanese gardens were "as beautiful as pictures” and even framed one of the gardens in one of the museums rooms as if it is a painting itself. Adachi Museum Garden has been selected as the best garden in Japan year after year since 2003, by the Journal of Japanese Gardens Shisai Project.
    adachi-garden-14.jpg
  • The Adachi Museum of Art was based on the private collection of Zenko Adachi.  Adachi collected Japanese paintings, ceramics and scrolls.  Adachi himself was an aficionado of Japanese gardens and collected each pine tree and each stone for the garden himself from around Japan.   In this way he created a beautiful garden filled with his own vision and passion.  Adachi believed that Japanese gardens were "as beautiful as pictures” and even framed one of the gardens in one of the museums rooms as if it is a painting itself. Adachi Museum Garden has been selected as the best garden in Japan year after year since 2003, by the Journal of Japanese Gardens Shisai Project.
    adachi-garden-03.jpg
  • Tenshozan Renge-in Komyo-ji usually referred to only as Komyoji is a Buddhist temple of the Jodo sect in Kamakura.  The temple is dedicated to the training of Buddhist priests and scholarly research.  Although Komyoji is a Jodo sect temple, it has certain features normally found only in a Zen temple, that is a pond garden, dry rock garden and a temple gate.
    komyoji-1.jpg
  • Tonogayato Garden is a landscape type  garden in Kokubunji, Tokyo. It was built for the vice-president of Manchurian Railway.  In 1929 the estate was bought by the founder of Mitsubishi and is now owned by Tokyo Metropolitan Parks who maintain it.  There is a teahouse on the garden's grounds that can be rented for tea ceremony.
    tonogayato-5.jpg
  • Gyokudo Kawai was considered  a great master of Japanese painting who lived in Mitake so as a memorial to his accomplishments Gyokudo Museum was created by Ken Nakajima - the landscape architect. The garden has no specific observation point, thought it can be viewed from many angles without changing its general look.  A central design concept that has been used to describe this garden is nesting technique, which has long been utilized in Japanese art.  Natural stones found in adjacent Tama River were used for the garden's stones as well as a part of natural woods at the background crossed over the wall turned to be garden trees that have set the border between artificial and natural. This can be considered in contrast to borrowed scenery often employed in Japanese gardens. In other words, instead of designating as background, it directly employs the natural elements in the garden itself.
    gyukodo-4.jpg
  • Momijiyama Garden is located near the ruins of Sunpu Castle in Shizuoka.  Garden of the Village is made up of various flowers, plants and a wooden pavilion. The zigzag wooden bridge is surrounded by irises in late May and June.  Garden of the Mountain Village is composed of a hill meant to resemble Mt. Fuji.  Surrounding the hill are azalea bushes arranged to as to look like the terraced tea fields of Shizuoka.  Shizuoka’s claims to fame are green tea and Mt Fuji.  Next, Garden of the Sea or is meant to be viewed between the pines facing the pond with the white beach below, so as to resemble the seashore of Miwa. Stones in the pond and the opposite shore represent Izu coastline, also part of Shizuoka Prefecture and known for its seascapes.  Finally the Garden of the Mountain is composed of two small waterfalls meant to symbolize mountain scenes of Japan.
    momijiyama-22.jpg
  • Todai-ji or the Eastern Great Temple in Nara - the Great Buddha Hall Daibutsuden shelters the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha known in Japanese as Daibutsu.  The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the Kegon sect of Buddhism. The temple is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site as "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara”.  Wild deer, regarded as messengers of the gods in the Shinto religion, roam the area regularly.
    seisyu-an-teahouse-1.jpg
  • Komyoji is a popular temple with locals in the Kamakura area for its abundant cherry blossoms in spring, frequent weekend flea markets, and free parking near the beach. Komyoji Garden has a rare example of a dry garden, sometimes called a Zen garden, as this temple is not of the Zen sect of Buddhism.  In addition to the temple's zen dry karesansui garden, on the north side of the temple is the pond garden, which comes to life in spring with sakura cherry trees.
    kamakura-komyoji-02.jpg
  • Showa Kinen Park is a large space surrounded by greenery in the outer suburbs of Tokyo.  A traditional Japanese garden was created in 1997 in a corner of this spacious park.  The strolling garden surrounds a pond, overlooking a tea house.   The delicacy of traditional Japanese landscaping takes account of details as small as a single flower plant or small stone. Kanfu-tei is the tea house built in the Sukiya style in harmony with the pond garden. It was built using mostly cypress special techniques such as roofing with cypress bark and special joints at pillars and beams.
    showa-kinen-2.jpg
  • Showa Kinen Park is a large space surrounded by greenery in the outer suburbs of Tokyo.  A traditional Japanese garden was created in 1997 in a corner of this spacious park.  The strolling garden surrounds a pond, overlooking a tea house.   The delicacy of traditional Japanese landscaping takes account of details as small as a single flower plant or small stone. Kanfu-tei is the tea house built in the Sukiya style in harmony with the pond garden. It was built using mostly cypress special techniques such as roofing with cypress bark and special joints at pillars and beams.
    showa-kinen-3.jpg
  • Apart from its teahouse, the main attraction at Yamamoto-tei is its pond garden.  It is the showpiece of the teahouse, from which it can be viewed from the windows and balcony. The garden is arranged around a pond with pine trees surrounding and the sound of waterfalls.
    yamamoto-tei-2.jpg
  • Yamanashi Prefecture is famous for its rock crystals and many world-class lapidary experts.  It should not be surprising, therefore, that a rock garden, for which the Japanese are famous, should be born.  The main difference here is that the stones are not austere white pebbles, but multicolored ones from local crystals.  The Jewel Dream Garden is large, and run by a local jewelry company that sponsors it and the adjacent Jewelry Museum.
    shingen-jewel-garden-8.jpg
  • Yamanashi Prefecture is famous for its rock crystals and many world-class lapidary experts.  It should not be surprising, therefore, that a rock garden, for which the Japanese are famous, should be born.  The main difference here is that the stones are not austere white pebbles, but multicolored ones from local crystals.  The Jewel Dream Garden is large, and run by a local jewelry company that sponsors it and the adjacent Jewelry Museum.
    shingen-jewel-garden-6.jpg
  • Yamanashi Prefecture is famous for its rock crystals and many world-class lapidary experts.  It should not be surprising, therefore, that a rock garden, for which the Japanese are famous, should be born.  The main difference here is that the stones are not austere white pebbles, but multicolored ones from local crystals.  The Jewel Dream Garden is large, and run by a local jewelry company that sponsors it and the adjacent Jewelry Museum.
    shingen-jewel-garden-5.jpg
  • Erin-ji Garden - Erin-ji is a Zen temple set in the mountains of Yamanashi Prefecture built in 1330. Zen priest and garden designer Muso Soseki was asked to establish and design the temple and its garden. It is now a temple of the Myoshin-ji branch of the Rinzai Zen Buddhism.  The temple's pond garden is best viewed from either the temple's tatami rooms or connecting hallways.
    erin-ji-garden-11.jpg
  • Tojo-tei Tojogaoka Garden is the former domain of Kokugawa Akitake, often called “the last Shogun".  In 1887 when the last Shogun returned power to the emperor.  At the time,  a new era had begun and people from Shogun families faded into obscurity.  The house was designed in styles of both the Edo and Meiji periods with only precious materials used in its construction.   The minimalism found in the design creates the beauty of form. The garden surrounding the home is  an important element havin been designed so that seasonal followers can be enjoyed viewing from all rooms.
    tojitei-tojogaoka-6.jpg
  • Tojo-tei Tojogaoka Garden is the former domain of Kokugawa Akitake, often called “the last Shogun".  In 1887 when the last Shogun returned power to the emperor.  At the time,  a new era had begun and people from Shogun families faded into obscurity.  The house was designed in styles of both the Edo and Meiji periods with only precious materials used in its construction.   The minimalism found in the design creates the beauty of form. The garden surrounding the home is  an important element havin been designed so that seasonal followers can be enjoyed viewing from all rooms.
    tojitei-tojogaoka-3.jpg
  • Shinchi Teien or Sacred Pond Garden was established during the early Meiji period.  Left dormant for many years, it was restored in 1999.  The centerpiece is a serene pond with strolling paths around it.  This secret garden is located adjacent to controversial Yasukuni Shrine.
    shinchi-teien-9.jpg
  • Shinchi Teien or Sacred Pond Garden was established during the early Meiji period.  Left dormant for many years, it was restored in 1999.  The centerpiece is a serene pond with strolling paths around it.  This secret garden is located adjacent to controversial Yasukuni Shrine.
    shinchi-teien-5.jpg
  • Kannon-in Garden was built in the mid 17th century and artfully incorporates the forest behind the pond as its natural background.  This style is called Shakkei "borrowed scenery”.  Kannon-in Garden was designated as a national scenic spot by the Japanese government.
    kannon-in-5.jpg
  • Ishitani Residence Garden - During the Edo period Chizu flourished as a post station. Among the quaint buildings in Chizu Town the residence of the Ishitani family, an upper class family.  Japanese, gardens are often designed to be viewed from a sitting position. The most celebrated garden at Ishitani Residence is the Chisen Garden, with plants artfully arranged around a pond, the Karesansui Garden, a dry landscape garden that uses no water to represent mountains and streams, and the Shibafu Garden showing the charm of green lawns. The space from indoors to the veranda and the gardens are connected in a gentle way.  In this way Japanese can appreciate living alongside nature by viewing from within the home.
    ishitani-garden-8.jpg
  • Sahara Kiku was a wealthy antique dealer in the Edo period established a garden for enjoying flowers and developed Mukojima Hyakkaen meaning "a garden with a hundred flowers that bloom”. The garden first opened with  360 plum trees. In later years, many different plants & flowers discussed in Japanese literature and poetry were added.  The garden is the only surviving flower garden from the Edo Period. So as to preserve the garden the owner gave the garden to the City of Tokyo. It was officially opened to the public in 1939.
    mukojima-3.jpg
  • Taishakuten Suikei-en Garden is to be viewed from a covered bridge that encircles the garden.  The garden itself is composed of a long hedge of azaleas, a pond with pines branches shaped to resemble clouds.  Walking along the covered walkway the view across the pond toward the guest house and teahouse provides the best view of the garden.
    taishakuten-suikei-en-02.jpg
  • Showa Kinen Park is a large space surrounded by greenery in the outer suburbs of Tokyo.  A traditional Japanese garden was created in 1997 in a corner of this spacious park.  The strolling garden surrounds a pond, overlooking a tea house.   The delicacy of traditional Japanese landscaping takes account of details as small as a single flower plant or small stone. Kanfu-tei is the tea house built in the Sukiya style in harmony with the pond garden. It was built using mostly cypress special techniques such as roofing with cypress bark and special joints at pillars and beams.
    showa-kinen-garden-9.jpg
  • Gyokudo Kawai was considered  a great master of Japanese painting who lived in Mitake so as a memorial to his accomplishments Gyokudo Museum was created by Ken Nakajima - the landscape architect. The garden has no specific observation point, thought it can be viewed from many angles without changing its general look.  A central design concept that has been used to describe this garden is nesting technique, which has long been utilized in Japanese art.  Natural stones found in adjacent Tama River were used for the garden's stones as well as a part of natural woods at the background crossed over the wall turned to be garden trees that have set the border between artificial and natural. This can be considered in contrast to borrowed scenery often employed in Japanese gardens. In other words, instead of designating as background, it directly employs the natural elements in the garden itself.
    gyukodo-2.jpg
  • Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, was built in 1393 as a retirement villa for Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga. He intended to cover the exterior with gold, but only managed to coat the the ceiling of the third floor with gold leaf before his death. After his death, his son converted the building into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school named Rokuonji, in accordance with Ashikaga's wishes.
    kinkakuji-1.jpg
  • Chion-in Hojo Garden is in the chisen kansyo style pond garden and designed in the early Edo period by Gyokuen and Ryoami, who were connected to garden master Kobori Enshu.  Kyoto prefecture has designated the garden as “Famous Scenic Spot”
    chion-in-1.jpg
  • Gonaitei Garden is within the Kyoto Imperial Palace  -  the estate dates from the Edo period when the residence of high court nobles were grouped  together within the palace walls. When the capital moved to Tokyo the court nobles' residences were demolished. Then Kyōto Gyoen became a public park open to the public, with the exception of the Imperial Palace itself.
    gonaitei-garden-1.jpg
  • Jizo in Snow - "Jizo" images and statues are popular in Japan as Bodhisattva who console beings awaiting rebirth and travelers. As such they are often found along roadsides, paths or even street corners.
    jizo-14.jpg
  • The Adachi Museum of Art was based on the private collection of Zenko Adachi.  Adachi collected Japanese paintings, ceramics and scrolls.  Adachi himself was an aficionado of Japanese gardens and collected each pine tree and each stone for the garden himself from around Japan.   In this way he created a beautiful garden filled with his own vision and passion.  Adachi believed that Japanese gardens were "as beautiful as pictures” and even framed one of the gardens in one of the museums rooms as if it is a painting itself. Adachi Museum Garden has been selected as the best garden in Japan year after year since 2003, by the Journal of Japanese Gardens Shisai Project.
    adachi-garden-08.jpg
  • The Adachi Museum of Art was based on the private collection of Zenko Adachi.  Adachi collected Japanese paintings, ceramics and scrolls.  Adachi himself was an aficionado of Japanese gardens and collected each pine tree and each stone for the garden himself from around Japan.   In this way he created a beautiful garden filled with his own vision and passion.  Adachi believed that Japanese gardens were "as beautiful as pictures” and even framed one of the gardens in one of the museums rooms as if it is a painting itself. Adachi Museum Garden has been selected as the best garden in Japan year after year since 2003, by the Journal of Japanese Gardens Shisai Project.
    adachi-garden-04.jpg
  • Ishitani Residence Garden - During the Edo period Chizu flourished as a post station. Among the quaint buildings in Chizu Town the residence of the Ishitani family, an upper class family.  Japanese, gardens are often designed to be viewed from a sitting position. The most celebrated garden at Ishitani Residence is the Chisen Garden, with plants artfully arranged around a pond, the Karesansui Garden, a dry landscape garden that uses no water to represent mountains and streams, and the Shibafu Garden showing the charm of green lawns. The space from indoors to the veranda and the gardens are connected in a gentle way.  In this way Japanese can appreciate living alongside nature by viewing from within the home.
    ishitani-garden-9.jpg
  • Ishitani Residence Garden - During the Edo period Chizu flourished as a post station. Among the quaint buildings in Chizu Town the residence of the Ishitani family, an upper class family.  Japanese, gardens are often designed to be viewed from a sitting position. The most celebrated garden at Ishitani Residence is the Chisen Garden, with plants artfully arranged around a pond, the Karesansui Garden, a dry landscape garden that uses no water to represent mountains and streams, and the Shibafu Garden showing the charm of green lawns. The space from indoors to the veranda and the gardens are connected in a gentle way.  In this way Japanese can appreciate living alongside nature by viewing from within the home.
    ishitani-garden-7.jpg
  • Lafcadio Hearn lived in Matsue for about one year during his long life in Japan.  His former residence is open to the public and is dedicated to his work.  Hearn was born in Greece in 1850 to an Irish father and a Greek mother and lived in Greece, Ireland, Britain, France and the USA before ending up in  Japan in 1890 where he married a Japanese and was naturalized as Japanese as Koizumi Yakumo, his name in Japan.  He is best know for books that introduced Japan to the western world.   His most famous work was "Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan”.  In his home at Matsue, Hearn described the Japanese garden of the residence: “There are large rocks in it, heavily mossed and fantastic basins of stone for holding water; and stone lamps green with years... and there are green knolls like islets.”  In his well known essay “In A Japanese Garden” he writes: “These are the gardens of the past. The future will know them only as dreams, creations of a forgotten art.”
    lafcadio-hearn-garden-1.jpg
  • 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.
    kiyosumi-28.jpg
  • 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.
    kiyosumi-27.jpg
  • Momijiyama Garden is located near the ruins of Sunpu Castle in Shizuoka.  Garden of the Village is made up of various flowers, plants and a wooden pavilion. The zigzag wooden bridge is surrounded by irises in late May and June.  Garden of the Mountain Village is composed of a hill meant to resemble Mt. Fuji.  Surrounding the hill are azalea bushes arranged to as to look like the terraced tea fields of Shizuoka.  Shizuoka’s claims to fame are green tea and Mt Fuji.  Next, Garden of the Sea or is meant to be viewed between the pines facing the pond with the white beach below, so as to resemble the seashore of Miwa. Stones in the pond and the opposite shore represent Izu coastline, also part of Shizuoka Prefecture and known for its seascapes.  Finally the Garden of the Mountain is composed of two small waterfalls meant to symbolize mountain scenes of Japan.
    momijiyama-13.jpg
  • Chion-in Hojo Garden is a pond garden and designed in the early Edo period by Gyokuen and Ryoami, who were connected to garden master Kobori Enshu.  Kyoto prefecture has designated the garden as “Famous Scenic Spot”
    chion-in-3.jpg
  • Erin-ji Garden - Erin-ji is a Zen temple set in the mountains of Yamanashi Prefecture built in 1330. Zen priest and garden designer Muso Soseki was asked to establish and design the temple and its garden. It is now a temple of the Myoshin-ji branch of the Rinzai Zen Buddhism.  The temple's pond garden is best viewed from either the temple's tatami rooms or connecting hallways.
    erin-ji-garden-12.jpg
  • Erin-ji Garden - Erin-ji is a Zen temple set in the mountains of Yamanashi Prefecture built in 1330. Zen priest and garden designer Muso Soseki was asked to establish and design the temple and its garden. It is now a temple of the Myoshin-ji branch of the Rinzai Zen Buddhism.  The temple's pond garden is best viewed from either the temple's tatami rooms or connecting hallways.
    erin-ji-garden-6.jpg
  • Shinchi Teien or Sacred Pond Garden was established during the early Meiji period.  Left dormant for many years, it was restored in 1999.  The centerpiece is a serene pond with strolling paths around it.  This secret garden is located adjacent to controversial Yasukuni Shrine.
    shinchi-teien-3.jpg
  • Hase-Dera Garden - Since the year 736, Hase-Dera Temple has been known as the 4th station among the 33 holy places in the Kanto area, and one of the main stops for Buddhist pilgrims in Kamakura, situated down the street from the Great Buddha of Kamakura. Hase-Dera has landscaped Japanese gardens, a giant prayer wheel, jizo caves, a bamboo grove and a vegetarian restaurant up the hill with a bird-eye view of Kamakura and the Shonan Coast.
    hasedera-garden-03.jpg
  • Hakone Garden is the oldest Japanese garden in the Western Hemisphere. The garden is set in eighteen acres of in the hills of Saratoga overlooking Silicon Valley. Visitors to Hakone Garden can experience the calming effect of a Japanese garden in Northern California.
    hakone-garden-5.jpg
  • Shinsen-en Garden Bridge, Kyoto
    shinsen-en-garden-2.jpg
  • Hase-dera Temple in Kamakura is officially named Kaiko-zan Jisho-in Hase-dera but commonly called Hase Kannon.  Hase-Dera has landscaped Japanese gardens, a giant prayer wheel, jizo caves, a bamboo grove, and a vegetarian restaurant up the hill with a birds-eye view of Kamakura and the Shonan Coast. Hase-dera is famous for its massive wooden statue of Kannon - a treasure of Japan.  Originally belonging to the Tendai sect of Buddhism, Hase-dera became an independent temple of the Jodo sect of Zen Buddhism.
    kamakura-hase-dera-04.jpg
  • Soribashi Bridge at Shomyoji - Shomyoji was built by Sanetoki Hojo during the Kamakura period, and was made the Hojo family temple of the Kanazawa area. The Jodo style garden with Ajiike Pond in front of the main temple is its most unique feature when considering the arched bridge. The temple's bell was portrayed in the woodblock print "Shomyo-no-Bansho," one of eight prints depicting views of Kanazawa by Hiroshige Utagawa.
    shomyoji-soribashi-bridge-2.jpg
  • Soribashi and Hirabashi Bridges at Shomyoji - Shomyoji was built by Sanetoki Hojo during the Kamakura period, and was made the Hojo family temple of the Kanazawa area. The Jodo style garden with Ajiike Pond in front of the main temple is its most unique feature when considering the arched bridge. The temple's bell was portrayed in the woodblock print "Shomyo-no-Bansho," one of eight prints depicting views of Kanazawa by Hiroshige Utagawa.
    shomyoji-bridges-2.jpg
  • Komyoji Garden at Komyoji Temple is a dry garden, sometimes called a Zen garden, though this temple is not of the Zen sect of Buddhism. It is a popular temple with locals in the Kamakura area for its abundant cherry blossoms in spring, frequent flea markets, and free parking near the beach.
    komyoji-pond.jpg
  • Tojo-tei Tojogaoka Garden is the former domain of Kokugawa Akitake, often called “the last Shogun".  In 1887 when the last Shogun returned power to the emperor.  At the time,  a new era had begun and people from Shogun families faded into obscurity.  The house was designed in styles of both the Edo and Meiji periods with only precious materials used in its construction.   The minimalism found in the design creates the beauty of form. The garden surrounding the home is  an important element havin been designed so that seasonal followers can be enjoyed viewing from all rooms.
    tojitei-tojogaoka-5.jpg
  • Mihama-en was built in Makuhari  with the intention of maintaining a bit of traditional Japanese design within a very modern urban environment. Its other purpose is to provide an oasis for residents and visitors to rest from modern life.  Mihama-en is the only traditional garden in Japan that intentionally used skyscrapers as its background contrast scenery.
    mihama-en-3.jpg
  • Mihama-en was built in Makuhari  with the intention of maintaining a bit of traditional Japanese design within a very modern urban environment. Its other purpose is to provide an oasis for residents and visitors to rest from modern life.  Mihama-en is the only traditional garden in Japan that intentionally used skyscrapers as its background contrast scenery.
    mihama-en-2.jpg
  • Shinchi Teien or Sacred Pond Garden was established during the early Meiji period.  Left dormant for many years, it was restored in 1999.  The centerpiece is a serene pond with strolling paths around it.  This secret garden is located adjacent to controversial Yasukuni Shrine.
    shinchi-teien-6.jpg
  • Kiun-kaku was once among the three greatest houses in Atami.  When it became a hotel, it was used by many Japanese authors and so is thought of as a historical and cultural asset because of its atmosphere of elegance.  The garden at Kiun-kaku is a strolling pond garden, with gentle slopes, winding paths, the garden exudes an atmosphere of privacy and privilege.
    kiunkaku-1.jpg
  • Genchuji Temple in Tottori is graced with a small but beautiful pond garden behind the temple.  Genchuji is also the burial site of Araki Mataemon, a swordsman of legend. Rakan  are painted on the fusuma screen doors inside the temple by Keitaro Takagi.
    genchuji--2.jpg
  • Ishitani Residence Garden - During the Edo period Chizu flourished as a post station. Among the quaint buildings in Chizu Town the residence of the Ishitani family, an upper class family.  Japanese, gardens are often designed to be viewed from a sitting position. The most celebrated garden at Ishitani Residence is the Chisen Garden, with plants artfully arranged around a pond, the Karesansui Garden, a dry landscape garden that uses no water to represent mountains and streams, and the Shibafu Garden showing the charm of green lawns. The space from indoors to the veranda and the gardens are connected in a gentle way.  In this way Japanese can appreciate living alongside nature by viewing from within the home.
    ishitani-garden-5.jpg
  • Tenshozan Renge-in Komyo-ji usually referred to only as Komyoji is a Buddhist temple of the Jodo sect in Kamakura.  The temple is dedicated to the training of Buddhist priests and scholarly research.  Although Komyoji is a Jodo sect temple, it has certain features normally found only in a Zen temple, that is a pond garden, dry rock garden and a temple gate.
    komyoji-2.jpg
  • Komyoji Garden at Komyoji Temple is a dry garden, sometimes called a Zen garden, though this temple is not of the Zen sect of Buddhism. It is a popular temple with locals in the Kamakura area for its abundant cherry blossoms in spring, frequent flea markets, and free parking near the beach.
    komyoji-garden-7.jpg
  • Apart from its teahouse, the main attraction at Yamamoto-tei is its pond garden.  It is the showpiece of the teahouse, from which it can be viewed from the windows and balcony. The garden is arranged around a pond with pine trees surrounding and the sound of waterfalls.
    yamamoto-tei-4.jpg
  • Showa Kinen Park is a large space surrounded by greenery in the outer suburbs of Tokyo.  A traditional Japanese garden was created in 1997 in a corner of this spacious park.  The strolling garden surrounds a pond, overlooking a tea house.   The delicacy of traditional Japanese landscaping takes account of details as small as a single flower plant or small stone. Kanfu-tei is the tea house built in the Sukiya style in harmony with the pond garden. It was built using mostly cypress special techniques such as roofing with cypress bark and special joints at pillars and beams.
    showa-kinen-garden-7.jpg
  • Showa Kinen Park is a large space surrounded by greenery in the outer suburbs of Tokyo.  A traditional Japanese garden was created in 1997 in a corner of this spacious park.  The strolling garden surrounds a pond, overlooking a tea house.   The delicacy of traditional Japanese landscaping takes account of details as small as a single flower plant or small stone. Kanfu-tei is the tea house built in the Sukiya style in harmony with the pond garden. It was built using mostly cypress special techniques such as roofing with cypress bark and special joints at pillars and beams.
    showa-kinen-garden-5.jpg
  • Momijiyama Garden is located near the ruins of Sunpu Castle in Shizuoka.  Garden of the Village is made up of various flowers, plants and a wooden pavilion. The zigzag wooden bridge is surrounded by irises in late May and June.  Garden of the Mountain Village is composed of a hill meant to resemble Mt. Fuji.  Surrounding the hill are azalea bushes arranged to as to look like the terraced tea fields of Shizuoka.  Shizuoka’s claims to fame are green tea and Mt Fuji.  Next, Garden of the Sea or is meant to be viewed between the pines facing the pond with the white beach below, so as to resemble the seashore of Miwa. Stones in the pond and the opposite shore represent Izu coastline, also part of Shizuoka Prefecture and known for its seascapes.  Finally the Garden of the Mountain is composed of two small waterfalls meant to symbolize mountain scenes of Japan.
    momijiyama-14.jpg
  • Momijiyama Garden is located near the ruins of Sunpu Castle in Shizuoka.  Garden of the Village is made up of various flowers, plants and a wooden pavilion. The zigzag wooden bridge is surrounded by irises in late May and June.  Garden of the Mountain Village is composed of a hill meant to resemble Mt. Fuji.  Surrounding the hill are azalea bushes arranged to as to look like the terraced tea fields of Shizuoka.  Shizuoka’s claims to fame are green tea and Mt Fuji.  Next, Garden of the Sea or is meant to be viewed between the pines facing the pond with the white beach below, so as to resemble the seashore of Miwa. Stones in the pond and the opposite shore represent Izu coastline, also part of Shizuoka Prefecture and known for its seascapes.  Finally the Garden of the Mountain is composed of two small waterfalls meant to symbolize mountain scenes of Japan.
    momijiyama-10.jpg
  • Ryoanji or the Temple of the Dragon at Peace is a Zen temple in northwest Kyoto, Ryoanji belongs to the My shin-ji school of the Rinzai branch of Zen Buddhism. The garden is considered to be the finest examples of a karesansui, Japanese rock garden, or zen garden, in the world. The temple and gardens are listed as Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    ryoanji-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-tea-3.jpg
  • Korakuen is a Japanese landscape garden located in Okayama and is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, along with Kenrokuen and Kairakuen. Korakuen was built in 1700 by Ikeda Tsunamasa, lord of Okayama. In 1884, ownership was transferred to Okayama Prefecture and the garden was opened to the public. The garden suffered severe flood damage in 1934 and during World War II bombing in 1945, but has been restored based on Edo period paintings and diagrams.
    korakuen-6.jpg
  • Meigetsuin Zen Garden - The karesansui zen garden of raked sand, rocks and plants at Meigetsuin Temple Garden represents legendary Mount Shumi or Sumeru an imaginary mountain in the Buddhist universe. According to records Meigetsuin was originally merely the guest house of a much bigger temple called Zenko-ji which was closed by the government during the Meiji period and is all that remains of the formerly important temple.
    meigetsuin-kamakura-5.jpg
  • Hokokuji Zen Garden -  Hokoku-ji  is famous for its bamboo garden Its nickname is Take-dera "Bamboo Temple" for that reason.  Besides the popular bamboo garden, and teahouse, Hokokuji also has a often overlooked Zen garden   Ashikaga Ietoki, ordered Zen priest Tengan Eko to establish Hokoku-ji. This temple became the family temple of the Ashikaga clan. Tengan was a disciple of Mugaku Sogen a contemporary of famous garden designer Muso Kokushi.
    hokokuji-zen-2.jpg
  • Kozenji Garden Tottori - while many temples around Japan share the name Kozenji, the Tottori Kozenji features a small landscape garden using "borrowed scenery" - that is hills and forest behind the garden incorporated into the garden's tableaux.
    Kozenji-Tottori-1.jpg
  • There are 540 of these statues representing disciples of Buddha at Kitain Temple in Kawagoe. They were sculpted between 1782 and 1825.  No two rakan statues are alike.  This assemblage on the temple grounds is known as Go Kyuaku Rakan, or "500 Rakan" although there are actually 540.
    kitain-rakan-3.jpg
  • Kitain Garden is meant to be viewed only from the temple building itself.  The garden is planted with plum, cherry, and maple trees and a variety of flowers.  In this way, the garden can be enjoyed in many different seasons of Japan.  In visiting Kitain Temple, the garden is often overlooked because of poor signage, but it is the furthermost temple room in back, so visitors should persist as it is the highlight of the temple, apart from the 500 rakan.
    kitain-garden-01.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. The difference between the traditional garden with Shiodome's skyscrapers as a background shows a remarkable contrast between modern Japan and traditional Japan which seem to co-exist in harmony.
    hama-rikkyu-12.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..
    koishikawa-korakuen-20.jpg
  • Suichin Arbor at Happo-en Garden - built in the early seventeenth century in Tokyo. In 1915 Fusanosuke Kuhara took over the garden for his personal retreat.  It is now the site of a popular wedding banquet hall, though the garden has been preserved as a photo op backdrop for wedding couples and is open to the public.
    happo-en-2.jpg
  • Tonogayato Garden is a landscape type  garden in Kokubunji, Tokyo. It was built for the vice-president of Manchurian Railway.  In 1929 the estate was bought by the founder of Mitsubishi and is now owned by Tokyo Metropolitan Parks who maintain it.  There is a teahouse on the garden's grounds that can be rented for tea ceremony.
    tonogayato-6.jpg
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