The most beautiful Japanese garden outside Kyoto

As the cultural capital of Japan, Kyoto is synonymous with some of the country’s most amazing traditional gardens. However, in order to limit the exploration of Japanese garden art to Kyoto, the less-known typical rich tranquil beauty and naturalistic harmony will be ignored. In fact, there is no “three large gardens in Japan” in Kyoto. Keep reading to discover the most beautiful Japanese gardens and what makes them unique.

Three great gardens in Japan

The “Three Great Gardens” in Japan refer to Kenrokuen, Korakuen and Kairakuen, each with distinctly beautiful features and scenery. All three are Dayang (Fethical Lord) was in the Edo period and featured the symbolic nature of this era. kaiyu (Circuit) Style Design. The garden is based on a central pond designed to stroll Zakanshiki The garden was originally intended to be admired from the interior space.

Kenrocken

Kenrokuen is located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture and was originally developed by Kanazawa Castle, which has been working for hundreds of years. The landscape is famous for following the six basic properties of a perfect garden: spaciousness, tranquility, artificial elements, ancient, abundant water and panoramic views. Therefore, Kenrokuen means “a garden combining six characteristics”.

Visitors can wander among carefully crafted landscapes with large ponds, winding streams, diverse trees and flowering plants that provide seasonal beauty. There are also charming teahouses and iconic elements such as Kotoji Stone Lantern and Flying Geese Bridge. Kenrokuen can be reached by bus at Kanazawa Station.

Korakuen

Korakuen is located in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture and was built by the Ikeda family of the Ikeda family about 300 years ago. It was originally a place for large-sized guests to entertain important guests. The layout of the garden emphasizes borrowed landscapes, a key aesthetic concept that incorporates elements of the garden’s exterior, whether natural or artificial, into its design. Okayama Castle and its surrounding hills have become a seamless harmony of the silhouette and texture of Korakuen.

A central pond with islands, man-made hills, tea gardens and even rice fields is interconnected with walking trails, each with picturesque visions. Enyo-Tei Tea House offers a particularly beautiful and peaceful view of the garden.

Kairakuen

The third of the three large gardens in Japan is Kairakuen in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Kairakuen was founded in 1842 by Tokugawa Nariaki, the ninth owner of Mito Domain. Its name translates to a “park to enjoy together”, which reflects its unique original purpose of opening to the public, not just aristocrats. Although the garden is beautiful all year round, it has bamboo forests, cedar forests and seasonal flowers, it is known since early spring for its spectacular plum blossoms.

From late February to March, Kiairakuen has about 3,000 plum trees of about 100 varieties, accounting for displays of white, pink and red, and its Mito Plum Blossom Festival attracts tourists from afar. The garden also features Kobuntei, a traditional Japanese-style historic home with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Beautiful Japanese Garden in Tokyo

Among the most popular gardens in Tokyo are the Imperial Palace and the East Garden of Shinjuku Gyoen. But there is more room to explore – Continue reading Tokyo’s little-known but equally charming Japanese garden.

Richigiya

Rikugien is one of the most beautiful Japanese gardens in Tokyo, reflecting the tranquility of the beautified environment during the Edo period. In 1953, Tokyo was designated as an important cultural asset and is a location with extraordinary beauty in Tokyo. The space maintains an intimate and peaceful atmosphere compared to some of Tokyo’s larger and well-rich parks.

According to a month, the garden highlights the fascinating flora and fauna of the season. Rikugien is especially famous for its crying cherry trees, usually blooming in late March. There is also a teahouse from the Mingji era tsutsuji-no-chaya, surrounded by fiery maple trees in autumn. Togetsukyo, a stone bridge named after its famous Vaka Poetry is another scene that cannot be missed.

Hama-Rikyu Garden

If you are visiting the Tsukiji Fish Market, we highly recommend stopping in this spacious landscaped garden. The Hama-Rikyu Gardens, in contrast to the towering skyscrapers in the neighboring Shia district, was originally a shogunate villa and duck hunting place during the Edo period. It was opened to the public in 1946.

The most unique feature of the garden is its large central seawater pond, Shioiri-no-aike, which pumps water directly from Tokyo Bay. Visitors can enjoy a cup of matcha and traditional candy at the Nakajima Tea House, which seems to float on the pond. The garden is also a magnificent 300-year-old black pine tree and seasonal flower fields, including plum blossoms, rapeseed flowers and the universe.

Kiyosumi Garden

Located in Kiyosumi Shirakawa, the stylish cafe, the Café is surrounded by a glittering pond surrounded by lush greenery and unique rocks called Meiseki. The garden was designated as a scenic spot by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and is known in summer for Japanese black pine trees and hydrangeas.

In winter you will see peonies and camellias. Like Rikugien, the space has fewer visitors than the more well-known parks, which is ideal for those who want a private scenic setting.

Traditional gardens can be visited in Japan

For those traveling in prefectures outside Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, we highly recommend stopping for these amazing and precious gardens.

Adagic Museum Garden

The Adachi Art Museum in Yasugi City, Shimane County, is known for its harmonious integration of art and nature. Founded in 1970 by local businessman Zenko Adachi, the museum houses a large number of modern Japanese paintings, including over 120 works by renowned artist Yokoyama Taikan, as well as ceramics, wood carvings and other Japanese artworks.

Its most famous feature is its massive and meticulously maintained Japanese garden. It covers an area of 165,000 m2 and has a variety of sub-parks including dry landscaped gardens, moss gardens, pond gardens and white gravel and pine gardens. When viewed from the museum, the landscape merges with the seasonal scenery of the interior art display through strategically placed windows, creating “live framed paintings” and “live hanging scrolls.”

Suizenji Garden

Suizenji Garden is a charming stroll garden located in the city of Kumanto. Built in the 17th century by the Hosokava clan, the ruling lord of Hongmoto, it aims to evoke 53 postal stations on the historic Torquito Road, once connected Edo (now Tokyo) with Kyoto and Kyoto, and connected Mount Fuji and other iconic landscapes.

The central pond of the garden is fed by natural springs on the mountain, and Mount Aso is famous for its special clear water, which adds to the tranquility of the garden. Stroll along the circular path while gazing at the meticulously maintained miniature landscapes, including picturesque arched bridges. A charming teahouse Kokindenju-no-Ma, allows visitors to taste matcha and traditional candy while overlooking the garden. Located in the garden, Izumi Shrine is dedicated to the Hosokawa clan and is another key place to admire.

The Banryu-Tei Garden in Kongobu-ji

Banryu-Tei Garden of Kongobu-ji Temple – “The Garden of Guarding the Dragon” is located in Koyasan, Wakayama Prefecture, a sacred and secluded monastery complex. It is called the largest in Japan Karesansui (Dry rock garden), and completed in 1984. Its design features 140 granite rocks, arranged in a bed of perfectly ineffective white gravel, depicting a pair of dragons emerging from the hovering clouds – symbolizing their protection of the temple.

The temple complex was founded in 816 by Kobo Daishi, who established Kongobu-ji as the headquarters of the Chundun Sect of mysterious Buddhism after studying in China. At the entrance you can find the Toyota clan’s peak Paulownia Flower Indignia. The story is that a monk named Ogo (also known as Mokujiki Shonin) prevented Toyotomi Hideyoshi from attacking and destroying Koyasan in the late 16th century, but inspired him to build something then known as Seiganji Temple in memory of his late mother.

Kitabatake Samurai Garden

Located in the Kitabatake Shrine in the northern city of Mie County, Kitabatake Samurai Gardens is a rare and historically important example of warrior-class gardens. This decorative garden is believed to be designated as a scenic spot and historical landmark of the country, and is believed to have been designed by Warrior Hosokawa Takakuni, a warrior around 1528-1531, and demonstrates the exquisite aesthetics of the Kitabatake family, a powerful aristocratic family.

Despite the violent past that took place in the past – the ruins of the Holocaust led to the fall of the clan in the hands of Oda Nobunaga’s son – today’s garden provides a calm and contemplative atmosphere with intricate stone arrangements, complex pond shapes, small bridges, small bridges and ancient stone lanterns, appreciated in all four seasons. This place is especially lovely, surrounded by vibrant spring greenery or fall foliage.

Sankeen Garden

Sankeien Garden is a sprawling traditional garden in Yokohama that was originally the private residence of wealthy silk businessman Tomitaro Hara (called Sankei Hara). It was opened to the public in 1906. Spreading approximately 175,000 square meters (45 acres), it not only passes through its carefully designed ponds, streams and walking trails, but also depends on the extraordinary collection of its 17 historic buildings. Many of these are important cultural characteristics that migrate from all over Japan, including Kyoto and Samuraiku.

Sankeien thoughtfully integrates elements such as three-story pagodas, teahouses, residential houses and temple halls, and incorporates landscapes and leaves to create a harmonious scene that changes every season. If you are going to Yokohama that day, the garden is a great place to relax and connect with nature. It is famous for its breathtaking autumn leaves that envelop the garden and cover the path with golden carpets.

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