Tag: Gardens
Shо̄sei-en: Kyoto’s Secret Garden
Shо̄sei-en is a tranquil, rolling garden which lies hidden in the heart of Kyoto city. A paragon of good design, be sure not to miss it!
Mizumoto Park: Tokyo’s Biggest and Best Place to See Irises
The northeastern reaches of Tokyo are home to the oft-overlooked Katsushika Ward, bordered by the Edo and Ara Rivers and dissected by the Oba and Naka Rivers. This abundance of water blesses Katsushika with pretty fertile ground — perfect for growing irises...
Suizenji Garden: Where the Art of War and Culture Resonate with One Another
One of Japan’s most renowned landscapes, Kumamoto’s Suizenji Garden is a stunning representation of engineering wisdom gained from wars and the artistic culture of the Edo era.
Suizen-ji Jōjuen (Suizenji Garden) in Kumamoto City...
Kyoto’s Botanical Greenhouse: The Perfect Winter Warmer
Kyoto city sees its highest visitor numbers in spring, at the peak of cherry blossom season. Following this, the second-highest influx comes in autumn, just in time for fresher air and the magnificent red foliage. Most winter visitors to Japan come to...
Myoshin-ji Temple and Taizo-in’s Garden: Kyoto’s Past, Perfectly Preserved.
Although much of Kyoto city's architectural and cultural history has skyrocketed in popularity in the last five years, many almost 'undiscovered' sites also exist. The lack of visitation creates a tangible atmosphere of living, breathing history. The vast temple complex of Myoshin-ji...
Tofuku-ji Temple: Mirei’s Modernism in the Heart of Kyoto
Japan's abundance of breathtaking gardens makes it a promised land for plant lovers and landscapers alike. The problem is, which gardens should take priority when you only have limited time in the country? Tofuku-ji temple's gardens aren't Kyoto's largest or oldest, but...
Tenju-an: Lost in Reflection in Nanzen-ji’s Hidden Garden
Kyoto is awash with picturesque gardens and ponds. Be they dry-stone, botanical or verdant moss or ponds filled with koi, the city offers endless choices. Naturally, each competes for a visitor's limited time. Few travellers visit Tenju-an, an unassuming side garden located...
The Oldest Things to See in Tokyo: Ultimate Guide
While the historic aspects of Tokyo aren’t as immediately obvious as in some other Japanese cities, there’s plenty to see if you do a bit of digging. From old town areas (also known as Shitamachi) such as the Yanesen District to historic...
Experience Summer Fireflies in Tokyo at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo
At night, the winding paths of Tokyo’s Chinzanso Garden are bathed in a fine mist, while the trickling streams and dark corners twinkle with tiny fireflies (hotaru). People mill about and whisper and squint to better see the glowing motes and, for...
A Mystical Sea of Clouds in Tokyo’s Historic Chinzanso Garden
If you venture out of the cities, you’ll find that Japan is a land of stunning scenery; jagged coastlines, ancient forests, white beaches and undulating mountain ranges. In some of these mountainous zones, a natural phenomenon can occur known as “unkai”, or...
