The Spider Lily is a flower that blooms in Japan each autumn. Its vibrant red petals, curved like spider legs, make it an unmistakable sight in rural and urban landscapes alike. But this flower is more than just a visual highlight—it holds deep symbolic meaning in Japanese culture, representing both...Continue Reading
Japan’s springtime showcases more than cherry blossoms. Following this iconic bloom, you will soon find another flower spectacle, painting landscapes with vibrant hues of pink, red, and white—the alluring azalea. From traditional gardens to tranquil parks, Japan has numerous destinations to experience the charm of these beautiful flowers. Let’s have...Continue Reading
Our newest eBook has been published! Learn more about the fascinating landscape garden Sankei-en in Yokohama!Continue Reading
Wisteria Splendor at Ashikaga Flower Park When it comes to experiencing the breathtaking beauty of Wisteria floribunda, commonly known as “Fuji” in Japanese, Ashikaga Flower Park stands out as a premier destination. Nestled in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, this park has undergone a transformation, becoming synonymous with the enchanting allure of...Continue Reading
I always point out that the regular Japanese garden is not flat. Most of them, even the tiniest ones, have at least one small mound. Fascinating was that, during my research, I found so little information on mounds in the Japanese garden! A garden with a tsukiyama 築山 is called...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
Hi there! You’re in Tokyo? Maybe staying at Tokyo Family Stay’s Conoe Sanbancho’s Apartment?And you would like to see a park or garden? Then let’s go for a walk! A walk around and through the Tokyo Imperial Palace! Of course, you can start on any side of the Imperial Palace...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
Yeah! It‘s this time of year again!I am always happy when December is close and I can decide the pictures for the next Japanese garden calendar. This year, I have looked up which pictures were the most popular on our Instagram account over the last twelve months. Of course, I...Continue Reading
