Today I want to introduce special openings and events in Kyoto during the autumn foliage. However, I won’t write of every special event as there are far too many! This is only a list of some examples. Most people who love Japanese Gardens dream of visiting Kyoto with its many, many temple...Continue Reading
Planning a Trip to Japan: A Guide for Garden Enthusiast Planning a trip to Japan is an exciting journey, especially if you’re passionate about gardens. Here’s a comprehensive Japan garden travel guide to help you design the perfect itinerary, focusing on the best seasons, destinations, and accommodations for your garden-themed...Continue Reading
The Rikugien garden was initially built by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu from 1695 until 1702. In 1868 it was purchased by Iwasaki Yataro who remodeled the garden to his needs but kept the heart of the garden – the theme of Waka poetry. However, he added many elements. So also the Hōraijima...Continue Reading
Today, we want to explore two popular elements in Japanese gardens. The picture of the turtle and the crane. For this, we will take the garden of Koichi-in in Kyoto as an example, where we have both elements as a rock setting (island) in one garden. However, these pictures can...Continue Reading
虎の子渡し – Tiger family crossing a river 碧巌録に示された臥龍 – Sleeping dragon 星座カシオペヤ – The constellation Cassiopeia 心の字 – Heart character 京都盆地を囲む五山 – Five mountains surrounding Kyoto 光の反射板 – Reflecting of Light 満月を巡る – The moon phases around the full moon Today I want to dig deeper into the manifold interpretations...Continue Reading
Top > Gardens Overview > Secret Gardens > Kyoto Area > Funda-in (Tōfuku-ji) Funda-in (Tōfuku-ji)（芬陀院 東福寺） Funda-in is a sub-temple of Tofuku-ji temple in Kyoto. It was built in 1321, in the Kamakura period, as a family temple for the Ichijo clan. In 1691, the buildings of the temple burnt...Continue Reading
Top > Gardens Overview > Secret Gardens > Kyoto Area > Entsū-ji Entsū-ji（圓通寺） The Emperor Go-Mizuno abdicated in 1629 and began to built this villa and garden as a retirement residence. It took him 13 years to find the right place for it with a nice view on Mt. Hiei...Continue Reading
Top > Gardens Overview > Secret Gardens > Kyoto Area > Chion-in Chion-in（知恩院） The Chion-in is the headquarters of the Jōdo-shū (Pure Land Sect of Buddhism) founded by priest Hōnen (1133–1212). The original temple was built in 1234 by Hōnen’s disciple, Genchi (1183–1238). It’s Sanmon is the oldest Mountain gate...Continue Reading
Top > Gardens Overview > Famous Gardens > Kyoto Area > Zuihō-in (Daitoku-ji) Zuihō-in (Daitoku-ji)（瑞峯院） Zuihō-in is an extraordinary temple in Kyoto: It was founded by daimyo Otomo, who was one of the early Christians in Japan. He founded the temple as his family temple; he and his wife are...Continue Reading
Top > Gardens Overview > Famous Gardens > Kyoto Area > Mibu-dera Mibu-dera（壬生寺） Mibu-dera was established in 991 by the monk Kaiken and is one of Kyoto’s oldest temples. Since Kyoto has see a lot of wars, fires and other catastrophes over the centuries, none of the original building has...Continue Reading
