Garden of Mr. Osaki
「Chugoku, Shikoku」カテゴリーアーカイブ
Garden of Mr. Osaki
The garden’s main scenery is a pond that stretches from the east to the south of the Shoin. It uses a pine forest outside the garden as borrowed scenery, and has stone arrangements at the top of a waterfall, a Horai island, and pond edges. The garden preserves the scenery style of the early Edo Period, indicating how landscaping techniques evolved in the Hoki region.
cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments
type : places of scenic beauty
1518 Uno, Yurihama, Tohaku District, Tottori 682-0701
Tel：0858-35-2003
The Osaki Family was a village headman responsible for temples, shrines and their religious administration for the Tottori Domain in the Edo Period.
During the time of the 5th chief, Kiyo’emon, the family moved to the current location and newly constructed the main residence, a Buddhist alter, a few cellars, and a Mon-nagaya (Nagaya-mon).
The garden is in the southeast of the main residence with a thatched roof. A pond stretches from east to south, and to the left, a dry waterfall is arranged in a triad-stone style. A Chozubachi (water basin) made of a natural stone is placed in the front riht corner. Mature trees of Japanese black pines (Pinus thunbergii) and sago palms (Cycas revoluta) grow on the other side of the pond with approximately 30 varieties of other plants such as dwarf azaleas (Rhododendron indicum) and cleyeras (Ternstroemia gymnanthera).
The garden preserves the scenery of the early Edo Period, indicating how landscaping techniques had evolved in the Hoki region.
Shozen-in Garden
Mitokusan Sanbutsu-ji is a mountain temple situated in Mt. Mitoku (900m). Shozen-in is one its three temples. Shozen-in has a garden with Hojo (the chief monk’s residence) and a garden with a pond facing a tatami room of the Shoin. The view from the tatami room of the Shoin consists of a pond in the front, a wooded area in the middle, and Monju-do as borrowed scenery.
cultural property : registered monuments
type : registered monuments
1013 Mitoku, Misasa-chō, Tōhaku-gun, Tottori-ken 682-0132
Tel：0858-43-2668
Mitokusan Sanbutsu-ji is a mountain temple situated in Mt. Mitoku. Shozen-in is one of its three temples. Shozen-in has a garden in front of a Hojo (the chief monk’s residence) and a garden with a pond facing a tatami room of the Shoin.
It consists of three Tsukiyama utilizing the slope. Water from a hill behind the garden is drawn to form a waterrall, flowing to the pond. The pond also has central islands, which are arranged to resemble a crane and a turtle, and a loose rock. The view from the tatami room of the Shoin facing the pond consists of the pond in the front, a wooded area in the middle, and Monju-do as borrowed scenery.
The northern slope of Mt. Mitoku is extremly steep and most of it consists of precipitous cliffs. The mountain is covered with forests mainly of broad leaved evergreen trees, and the moutain as a whole is considered as a key feature of the landscape. The mountain temple Sanbutsu-ji is also an important landscape component.
The main building of Shozen-in was lost by a fire in 2012, but recovery construction has been ongoing since 2015.
Kannon-in Garden
A Tsukiyama uses a natural slope from the south-east to the west of the Hojo. The pond at the bottom of the Tsukiyama occupies half of the garden. The waterfall arrangement, a central island, and garden trees create an elegant landscape. This is a good example of the localization of Kyoto-style gardens in the late Edo Period.
cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments
type : places of scenic beauty
162 Uemachi, Tottori-shi, Tottori-ken 680-0015
Tel：0857-24-5641
Kan’non-in is one of the 8 prayer halls of the Ikeda Family of the Tottori Domain. It is told that the Lord, Ikeda Mitsunaka, completed the temple spending 10 years, and it is considered to be one of the localized Kyoto-style gardens in the late Edo Period.
A Tsukiyama arranges a natural slope from the south-east to west of the Hojo. The pond at the bottom of the Tsukiyama occupies half of the garden. When viewing the pond from the Hojo, visitors can see a forest expanding on the mountain slope behind a Tsukiyama (artificial hill), creating scenery with depth. The pond has stone arrangements of a crane island, a turtle island, and a waterfall, which remain the same as they were in the Genroku Era. The garden skillfully utilizes wild plants native to the area to create beautiful landscape. During spring when cherry trees blossom, the garden becomes a regional tourist destination.
“Sho-kanzeon-bosatu,” the principal image of the temple, is called “Shusse Kan’non (Kan’non of eminance) since it was moved to a bigger temple everytime its alter was changed.
Manpuku-ji Garden
Manpuku-ji was originally founded as Anpuku-ji in the Heian Period, then moved to its current location in 1374 as Manpuku-ji. The garden is a “temple” style garden made by Sesshu in 1479. The pond in the front represents the Chinese character for “heart (kokoro).” A gently sloped Tsukiyama, and spiraling stone arrangements represent the world of Shumisen, of Buddhist cosmology.
cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments
type : places of scenic beauty, historic sites
25-33 Higashimachi, Masuda-shi, Shimane-ken 698-0004
Tel：0856-22-0302
Home page : manpukuji.server-shared.com/
The origin of Manpuku-ji was a temple called Anpuku-ji, which was built in the Heian Period. Anpuku-ji was washed away in large tsunami, rebuilt as a martial art practice hall, then transferred to the current location by the 11th lord, Masuda Nanao, in 1374 (the Muromachi Period).
Its garden is said to have been made by Sesshu in 1479. It is in a temple style with a pond in the front center representing the Chinese character “heart (kokoro).”
The right-hand section of the pond is under the shadow of tree branches that are extending from a forest behind the pond. A stone arrangement of a waterfall is placed on the other shore of the pond. A cape is placed in front, and a Horai stone is located to the left of the dry waterfall. A gently-sloped Tsukiyama can be seen at the center of the other side of the pond. A low-height Tateishi is placed on top of the Tsukiyama, and stones are arranged in a spairaling shape down the slope to represent the world of Shumisen, which is the Buddhism cosmology. The area from the left-hand section of the pond to the west side of the building represents a more open, bright world.
Iko-ji Garden
The 5th chief monk of Sukan-ji, the predecessor of the present Iko-ji, was Sesshu and he created a garden in one of the subordinate temples. Sukan-ji was dilapidated during the Warring States Period, but later combined with Iko-ji and remains to this day. This is a Horai-style garden with a crane-shaped pond and a turtle island, and it shows a variety of scenery from season to season.
cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments
type : places of scenic beauty, historic sites
4-29 Somebachō, Masuda-shi, Shimane-ken 698-0011
Tel：0856-22-1668
Iko-ji is a temple of the Tofuku-ji school of the Rinzai sect. Its predecessor was called Sukan-ji and it was founded during the Muromachi Period. Sukan-ji became dilapidated during the Warring States Period, but the 17th head of the Masuda Family, Munekane, restored the temple as Iko-ji.
The 5th chief monk of Sukan-ji was Sesshu, who was a famous ink painter, and created a garden in one of the subordinate temples which became the base of the current garden.
It is a Horai-style stroll and view garden with a pond. The pond is shaped like a crane and there is a turtle island in the pond. It is famous for its weeping cherry trees in the spring and azaleas in May. Various trees create cool shade in the summer, and large maple trees turn red in the fall. The snowscape in winter reminds visitors of the ink paintings by Sesshu. The garden has various appearances from season to season. There are also other things to see in the temple. An ash mound is believed to be the place where Sesshu was cremated. There is a grave of Masuda Munekane, the lord of the clan that governed this area for a long time, and historical statues such as arhat statues.
Kyu Garden of Mr. Hori
Old residence and garden of Hori consists of four areas, namely the front garden of the main building, Rakusan-en, Waraku-en and the outer garden of Hatagasako Hospital. It has a wide variety of landscaping elements with superb design and structures. It is also famous for its unique scenery which maximizes the local landscape such as the valley of the Shiraishi River and the land along the river.
cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments
type : places of scenic beauty
795 Muraki, Tsuwano-chō, Kanoashi-gun, Shimane-ken 699-5622
Tel：0856-72-0010
The Hori Family was one of the powerful clans in the Tsuwano area who managed the Sasagadani copper mine in the Iwami silver mine during the Edo Period. The garden consists of 4 areas: A dry landscape garden in the south of the main building, which was built along the Shiraishi River; the garden, Rakusan-en, for a Sukiya style building, Rakusan-so, which was built by Hori Tojuro Reizo, the 15th head of the clan, in 1900; the garden, Waraku-en, built on the slope of the riverbank of the Shiraishi River on the opposite side in 1915 and a fish-breeding pond; and the remains of the outer garden of the Hatagasako Hospital, which was built by the Hori Family for the employees and local residents who worked for the copper mine.
The garden in the south of the main building and study is a simple and small dry landscape garden surrounded by mud walls, which exhibits the standard style of the Shoin-style front garden established in the Edo Period. Rakusan-en is famous for stone arrangements for a double-tier waterfall, lanterns for snow-scene viewing along stepping stones by the pond and stone buildings such as the Soto-style stone lanterns. The view of the garden from the main parlor includes a scenery of rice paddies by the Shiraishi River and Waraku-en on the opposite riverbank.
Unique characteristics of the local geography are applied fully to Waraku-en with various designs. The entire valley along the Shiraishi River can be viewed from the lookout on the higher point of the garden. The Hatagasako Hospital was considered to be an important welfare and medical service facility related to the Hori Family. The garden is valuable because of the remains of the landscapes which were used for the hospitals in the recent modern times.
Garden of Mr. Okazaki
In a castle town of the former Tsuwano Domain, this garden was created in the residential area for the townspeople which prospered from the end of the Edo Period to the mid Meiji Era. It is in a style of Tori garden in which visitors can go through the garden from the front entrance to the back door. Although it is small, there is a courtyard, which shows some depth, along the veranda which connects the parlor to the warehouse in the middle. This garden demonstrates the development of the landscaping culture in the modern Tsuwano.
cultural property : registered monuments
type : registered monuments
ro213 Ushiroda, Tsuwano-chō, Kanoashi-gun, Shimane-ken 699-5605
Tel：0856-72-0005
Okazaki Garden is one of about 20 residential gardens for the townspeople which remains until today in a castle town of the former Tsuwano Domain. The Okazaki Family was a purveyor to the Government founded in 1854 who dealt with fabrics made from cotton and flax, odd things and knickknacks. They built a house with a storefront under the name Sasaya, about half-way down the Honmachi street in the center of the castle town. The garden encloses the south and east of the building and its corner is at right angles. The south part of the house consists of the room where the family Buddhist altar is situated and the main parlor. The east part is the parlor in the warehouse. The landscape continues to the south of the veranda which is connected to the back parlor. It seems that the garden came to its current state after being renovated due to the great fire of 1853, although an actual date of landscaping is unknown.
There is a dry waterfall with stones in a narrow strip of space between the adjacent pond and the wall, and to the south of that dry waterfall, there is also a Tsukiyama (artificial hill) with stone arrangements, pine and Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) trees. The artificial hill gets gradually higher as it goes to the back and there is a variation on the scenery due to the large standing stone and ornamental stones. The view of the dry stream and the artificial hill will unfold as visitors walk towards the veranda and their designs and appearances are full of ideas to make the small space look larger.
Garden of Mr. Zaima
In a castle town of the former Tsuwano Domain, this garden was created in the residential area for the townspeople which prospered from the end of the Edo Period to the mid-Meiji Era. There is a small front garden inside the front gate, which faces the street, and a main garden in the east of the main house. This garden demonstrates the development of the landscaping culture in the modern Tsuwano and it has a trace of a merchant’s house from the early modern period.
cultural property : registered monuments
type : registered monuments
ha38 Ushiroda, Tsuwano-chō, Kanoashi-gun, Shimane-ken 699-5605
Tel：0856-72-2867
Zaima Garden is one of about 20 residential gardens for the townspeople which remains until today in a castle town of the former Tsuwano Domain. This is a typical traditional tradesman’s mansion in Tsuwano, which was built in 1899. It is believed that the foundation of the garden was created along with the store, where they sold alcoholic beverages, and the current main residence.
There are a front garden and the main garden. The front garden has a lantern and a pine tree inside the front gate. The stone arrangements with large stones around the pine tree create a conceptual space of emptiness. The path through the garden gate will take visitors to the small garden in front of the warehouse. The main garden is in the east of the back parlor, which is in the main building along with the room for the Buddhist altar. Two small basin-shaped ponds, garden stones, a lantern, a Tsukubai (a washing basin), etc. are arranged near the eaves and stepping stones are placed around them. More stepping stones are placed in the area from the shoe-removing stone of the back parlor to the back of the garden. They continue to go around two Tsukiyama (artificial hills), which are connected with a stone bridge. The view of the garden from the back parlor consists of a Kasuga lantern and several standing stones on top of the Tsukiyama in the innermost place, and they are connected to the scenery of Mt. Aono behind the garden in the distance.
Garden of Mr. Tanaka
In a castle town of the former Tsuwano Domain, this garden was created in the residential area for the townspeople which prospered from the end of the Edo Period to the mid-Meiji Era. This is a stroll garden with a pond which uses water from the irrigation channel along the street. It has common characteristics of other pond gardens in the castle town of Tsuwano. This garden demonstrates the development of the landscaping culture in the modern Tsuwano and it has a trace of a merchant’s house from the early modern period.
cultural property : registered monuments
type : registered monuments
ro70 Ushiroda, Tsuwano-chō, Kanoashi-gun, Shimane-ken 699-5605
Tel：0856-72-1661
Tanaka Garden is one of about 20 residential gardens for the townspeople which remains until today in a castle town of the former Tsuwano Domain. It is believed that the garden was created when Miura Goroemon, who was a silk manufacturer, constructed the main house in 1886. The Tanaka Family, who created a fortune with silk textile manufacture, purchased the house in 1927 and the existing garden was created.
The garden is in the southwest of the store and the main house. It is a stroll garden around a pond so visitors can enjoy it not only by viewing it from the parlor but also by walking around the pond. There is a front gate to the garden between the store/main house on the street and a traditional storehouse with mud walls. After the front gate, there is a narrow front garden with stepping stones. The main house and the storehouse are connected with a connecting corridor and there is a small gate in the corridor. After going through the small gate, there is a lush pond garden with the mountain, where there are ruins of the Tsuwano Castle, in its background. There is a Tsukiyama (artificial hill) in the south shore of the pond. Standing stones on top and trees create an appearance of a secluded mountain. The stepping stones in the front garden are connected to the stepping stones from the shoe-removing stone in front of the main house. They will continue to go through an Inari shrine in the back of the garden and to the top of the artificial hill, and then around the pond. There are lanterns and garden stones here and there to make the scenery more enjoyable.
Garden of Mr. Tsubaki
In a castle town of the former Tsuwano Domain, this garden was created in the residential area for the townspeople which prospered from the end of the Edo Period to the mid-Meiji Era. As for the design and structures of the garden, there are some common characteristics with the small courtyards of the early modern times to recent modern times. This garden demonstrates the development of the landscaping culture in the modern Tsuwano and it has a trace of a merchant’s house from the early modern period.
cultural property : registered monuments
type : registered monuments
ro190 Ushiroda, Tsuwano-chō, Kanoashi-gun, Shimane-ken 699-5605
Tel：0856-72-0021
Fundo-ya (Tsubaki-ya) manufactured and sold Japanese candles, hair oil, rapeseed oil, camellia oil, etc. in the current location beginning in 1596, during the Keicho Era. (They shifted their business to petroleum energy in 1947.) According to “the drawing of the townscape of the Tsuwano Domain” which was created by the order of the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1703, Fundo-ya Hanbei already existed in the same location on the drawing. He was considered to be one of “the top eight fellows” of the Tsuwano Domain and, in recognition, he was given a brass flower bowl (Usubata) with a family crest of the trade name from the lord and it still remains until today.
The building was constructed shortly after the great fire of the castle town of Tsuwano in 1853. It was difficult to procure lumber because it was right after the fire, so they used recycled lumber and sills that were salvaged from the fire.
It appears to be crude, but a typical merchant’s house and Machiya-style from the Edo Period still remain intact even today and it is designated as a registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.
The courtyard (Tsubaki Garden) is designated as a Registered Monument. Although it is unknown exactly when during the Edo Period it was created, marks of the great fire of 1853 (the sixth year of the Kaei Era) such as burnt marks and cracks were found in the shoe-removing stone in the stone arrangements. The courtyard was very common in the Machiya-style architecture during the Edo Period because lighting was not enough and ventilation was necessary. Haircap moss (Polytrichum) covers the entire area between stepping stones. This garden is simple yet refined.
Okayama Koraku-en
This is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan along with Kenroku-en in Kanazawa and Kairaku-en in Mito.
It was built by the 2nd lord of the Okayama Domain, Ikeda Tsunamasa, in 1686 to create a space filled with serenity. It was originally a garden where visitors enjoyed the scenery from the buildings inside the garden, but paths for strolling were added later during the renovations by subsequent lords. The appearances of the garden from the Edo Period are very well preserved.
cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments
type : places of special scenic beauty
1-5 Kōrakuen, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi, Okayama-ken 703-8257
Tel：086-272-1148
Home page : okayama-korakuen.jp/
It was landscaped by the 2nd lord of the Okayama Domain, Ikeda Tsunamasa, in 1686 to create a space filled with serenity. It was originally created to enjoy the view from the buildings inside the garden.
The 3rd lord, Tsugumasa, conducted a major renovation on the buildings and the garden. He adopted a landscape of stroll garden so that visitors could enjoy the garden as they walk around. A Tsukiyama (artificial hill) was created in the center of the garden and waterways were added around the bottom of the artificial hill. The Sawanoike pond and the pond of Renchi-ken were connected to create a pond shaped like a gourd. From En’yo-tei, which was used as a lounge when the lord visited, visitors can get a sweeping view of the scenic spots of the garden including the vast lawn, a large pond and the Forest of Chishio, which is a maple forest in the eastern part of the garden.
The original borrowed scenery of the Okayama Castle has been lost since the castle was burnt down during the war in the Showa Period, but Mt. Misao is still a part of the borrowed scenery in the southeast direction of the garden. The artificial hill in the middle of the garden is about 6 meters high and from the top of the hill, visitors can command a full view of Sawanoike, Enyo-tei, lawn field and Seiden (an imitation of ancient rice fields) in the garden. The old layout of a Daimyo garden is very well preserved in this garden.
Raikyu-ji Garden
This is the garden in the south of Raikyu-ji’s study. It uses Mt. Atago, which is far away in the frontal direction from the garden, as its borrowed scenery. There are stone arrangements on the crane and turtle islands and white sand covers the entire surface. Raikyu-ji burnt down in a great fire in the Tenpo Era and the garden has also been renovated repeatedly, but the methods from the beginning of the Edo Period can still be seen in the main portion and visitors can enjoy its exquisite design.
cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments
type : places of scenic beauty
18 Raikyūjichō, Takahashi-shi, Okayama-ken 716-0016
Tel：0866-22-3516
Home page :raikyuji.com/
This garden is created in the south of the study in Raikyu-ji, a Zen temple originally founded as Ankoku-ji by Ashikaga Takauji in 1339. It is a Horai-style dry landscape garden and it is believed to be an early landscaping work of Kobori Enshu, who was a famous landscaper.
There are stone arrangements on the crane and turtle islands and the white sand covers the entire surface. It uses Mt. Atago, which is far away in the frontal direction from the garden, as its borrowed scenery. A large dwarf azalea bush is planted at the bottom of the mountain on the left of the study and it adds a unique appearance to the garden. The pruning method used for this dwarf azalea is unique to the Enshu style and it represents big waves of the ocean in this garden. All Buddhist temples in Raikyu-ji were burnt down in the great fire of the Tenpo Era. The temple estate was confiscated during the anti-Buddhist movement in the Meiji Era and most parts of the precincts were lost. The garden has also been renovated repeatedly since then, but the methods from the beginning of the Edo Period can still be seen in the main portion and visitors can enjoy its exquisite design.
Shukkei-en
It was created as a garden in the villa of the 1st lord of the Asano Domain in Hiroshima, Asano Naga’akira, in 1620. Ueda Soko, who was a principal retainer and a famous tea master, landscaped this garden. The name, Shukkei-en (a garden with shrank scenery), was derived from the fact that the garden represents many famous scenaries in reduced sizes. It is also said that this garden imitates the West Lake, a famous scenic spot in China.
cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments
type : places of scenic beauty
2-11 Kaminoborichō, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima-ken 730-0014
Tel：082-221-3620
Home page : shukkeien.jp
It was created as a garden in the villa of the 1st lord of the Asano Domain in Hiroshima, Asano Nagaakira, in 1620. Ueda Soko, who was a principal retainer and a famous tea master, landscaped this garden. There is a pond called Takuei-chi in the center of the garden and there are more than 10 islands of various sizes. A Tsukiyama, valley, tea room, bridge and arbor are beautifully arranged and visitors can stroll along the paths around the garden. A Sukiya style tea room, called Seifu-kan, is in the center of the garden and its western side is in a style of Shoin-zukuri. There is a window called Kato-mado in the east side of the tea room and a bridge called Koko-kyo in the middle of the pond can be seen through the window.
The name, Shukkei-en (a garden with shrank scenery), was derived from the fact that the garden represents many famous sceneries in reduced sizes. It is also said that this garden imitates the West Lake, a famous scenic spot in China.
The garden suffered devastating damage from the atomic bomb in 1945, but after that it was restored over a 30-years time span and it is now a place of recreation and relaxation for many people from inside and outside Japan.
Jodo-ji Garden
It is a garden with a Tsukiyama (artificial hill) and a pond. It is located in the northwest part of the precincts of Jodo-ji and there is Hojo (the chief monk’s residence) and a Kuri (living quarters for monks) in the southeast of the garden. A natural mountain ridge is used as a Tsukiyama in this garden and there is a narrow pond between the Tsukiyama and white sand in the foreground. Many stones are also arranged around the Tsukiyama. The stone arrangement for the waterfall in the center is especially elaborate.
cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments
type : places of scenic beauty
20−28 Higashikubochō, Onomichi-shi, Hiroshima-ken 722-0043
Tel：0848-37-2361
Home page : www.ermjp.com/j/temple/index.html
It is a garden with a Tsukiyama (artificial hill) and a pond. It is located in the northwest of the precincts of Jodo-ji and there is a Hojo (the chief monk’s residence) and a Kuri (living quarters of monks) in the southeast of the garden. A natural mountain ridge is used as a Tsukiyama in this garden and there is a narrow pond between the Tsukiyama and white sand in the foreground. Many stones are also arranged around the Tsukiyama. The stone arrangement for the waterfall in the center is especially elaborate.
According to the temple’s old drawing, Hasegawa Senryu, who is Sesshu’s descendant 13 generations later, created this garden in, the so-called, Tsukiyama of Gyo (semi-formal) style in 1806. The date and landscaper of the gardens, that were created before the Edo Period, are often unknown, therefore it is very rare that both are clear for this garden.
A tea room called Roteki-an and its garden were created behind the Tsukiyama in 1814. In later years, important stone arrangements such as the main Honzon stone became invisible due to the overgrowth of plants including azaleas, but it was known that the original layout and stone arrangements were well preserved based on the drawing.
The renovation was completed in 1999 and now the original garden is restored.
Joei-ji Garden
Joei-ji was built as a villa by Ouchi Masahiro about 500 years ago. It is said that Ouchi requested Sesshu to design the garden. There is a pond shaped like the character for “heart (Kokoro)”, a dry waterfall and standing stones in the garden with mountains and forests in its background. It seems that some renovations have been conducted, but most of the original landscapes have been preserved.
cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments
type : places of scenic beauty, historic sites
2001−1 Miyanoshimo, Yamaguchi-shi, Yamaguchi-ken 753-0011
Tel：083-922-2272
Joei-ji was built as a villa by Ouchi Masahiro about 500 years ago. It is said that Ouchi requested Sesshu to design the garden.
The garden is located in the entrance of a small valley, which opens in the direction from east to south, on the edge of the hill. The garden is designed in a deep valley and its front faces the mountain.
It has mountains and forests in its background and there is a pond shaped like the character for “heart (Kokoro)” in the back. In front of the pond, a dry waterfall and numerous garden stones are arranged. The designs, including the method used for the standing stones, are ingenious and the garden is full of tasteful elements. It seems that some renovations have been conducted but most of the original landscapes have been preserved. The garden is full of the Zen taste which is characteristic of Sesshu, an artist monk who created this garden.
Garden of Mr. Mouri
This is a garden inside the main residence (built in 1916) of the Mouri Family, a former lord of the Choshu Domain. It is located at the foot of Mt. Tatara, which is in the east of the city center of Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. They made the best use of its natural landscape around the pond and it is a typical stroll garden with stone arrangements, plants, lawn, gazebos and lanterns, which are arranged perfectly.
cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments
type : places of scenic beauty
1-15-１ Tatara, Hōfu-shi, Yamaguchi-ken 747-0023
Tel：0835-22-0001
This is a garden inside the main residence (built in 1916) of the Mouri Family, a former lord of the Choshu Domain. It is located at the foot of Mt. Tatara, which is in the east of the city center of Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Originally there was a reservoir for the rice paddies and a small settlement, but it was selected as a location for the new main house for the Mouri Family around 1892. The garden was completed along with the main house in 1916. The garden’s entrance consists of a path from the front gate to the front entrance of the house along the Nagi River. The front garden has a lantern by the wide carriage porch in front of the mansion of the Mouri Family, a Chinese bayberry (Morella rubra) tree and azalea bushes. It is a stroll garden with a pond which spreads south of the main house’s 2-story study. The gourd-shaped inner pond is about 5,500 m2 and there is a stone bridge where the pond is narrow. They made the best use of its natural landscape and it is considered to be a typical stroll garden with stone arrangements, plants, lawn, gazebos and lanterns, which are arranged perfectly. There is a large lawn for garden parties in the northwest of the garden, which was a typical garden feature created around that era.
Sorin-ji Garden
It is a garden with a Tsukiyama (artificial hill) and a pond. It is called Ryushin-tei and is located in the north of a Hojo (the chief monk’s residence) and faces towards the study for Sorin-ji, a temple of the Rinzai sect. There are standing stones on top of the hill which faces south, and these stones are the centerpiece of this garden. There is a dry waterfall towards the pond at the bottom of the hill. Eight medium-sized standing stones are arranged in two rows in the pond. Because of that particular design, it is believed that the original garden was created around the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties.
cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments
type : places of scenic beauty
210 Kogushi, Ube-shi, Yamaguchi-ken 755-0067
Tel：0836-21-1087
Fukubara Hirotoshi, a lord of Ube, built Sorin-ji in 1670 in order to hold memorial services for the repose of his father, Mototoshi’s soul. This Rinzai sect temple was established in the place where then dilapidated Fusai-ji was. It is believed that the old pond and garden of Fusai-ji were repaired and upgraded.
It is a garden with a Tsukiyama (artificial hill) and a pond. It is called Ryushin-tei and located in the north of a Hojo (the chief monk’s residence), facing towards the study. There are standing stones on top of the hill which faces south, and these stones are the centerpiece of this garden. There is a dry waterfall at the bottom of the hill and water falls to the pond. Eight standing stones are arranged in two rows in the pond in a Yodomari-style.
This type of landscaping can also be seen in Chion-in and Nanzen-ji in Kyoto which are believed to have been built in the 14th century (the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties). The same style from the Shoin garden for the temples from that time period can be found everywhere in this garden, thus it is believed that the original garden goes back to the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties. This is the oldest garden in the Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Ritsurin Park
This site was originally a villa of the lord of Takamatsu, Matsudaira. It became a park managed and operated by Kagawa Prefecture in 1875 (the Meiji Era). The spacious area features 6 ponds and 13 Tsukiyama (artificial hills), making it one of the largest Daimyo gardens, and the largest among the gardens designated as Cultural Properties.
cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments
type : places of special scenic beauty
1-20-16 Ritsurinchō, Takamatsu-shi, Kagawa-ken 760-0073
Tel：087-833-7411
Home page : my-kagawa.jp/ritsuringarden
This garden consists of South Garden and North Garden. South Garden preserves its original state as a Daimyo garden from the early Edo Period, including its Chiwari (layout) and stone arrangements typical of a stroll garden. North Garden was created in the Genroku Era as a duck hunting field but redesigned by Ichikawa Nobuo of the Department of the Imperial Household in the early Taisho Era. The garden was partially renovated again in later years. The garden is located in a vast landscape with Mt. Shiun as background. It features six ponds and 13 Tsukiyama (artificial hills).
Its pond, trees, and stone arrangements are appreciated for their elegance and garden workpieces are effectively placed throughout. Mt. Shiun’s dense foliage adds a taste of wilderness, and visitors can enjoy a picturesque view from the summit. In 1897 (the Meiji Era), a national forest on the mountain’s east slope was added to the site, which it includes today.
The area including Mt. Shiun reaches approximately 75ha, which makes it the largest garden that has been designated as a cultural property.
Tensha-en
It is part of the Kyu Hama Goten (or “Former Hama Palace”), adjacent to the Uwajima Castle to the west. The garden’s main feature is a large pond. The pond features an indented shoreline with a cape, an inlet, and a Kyokuho (winding beach) as well as a small island. Many sea rocks, mainly of Izumi sandstone, are used for stone arrangements at the key shore points. The park features a variety of warm-temperate plants, especially many varieties of bamboo and wisteria.
cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments
type : places of scenic beauty
Tenshakōen, Uwajima-shi, Ehime-ken 798-0065
Tel：0895-25-2709
This is a garden for a retirement residence built by the 7th lord of Uwajima, Date Munetada. It is located within Kyu Hama Palace along the west side of the Uwajima Castle. It is thought that the name “Tensha-en” derives from a verse of a poem written by the lord of Sendai, Date Masamune, when he retired, since the first lord of the Uwajima Domain, Date Hidemune, was the oldest son of Masamune.
The garden’s main feature is a large pond. The pond features an indented shoreline with a cape, an inlet, and a Kyokuho (winding beach) as well as a small island. Many sea rocks, mainly of Izumi sandstone, are used for stone arrangements at the key shore points. Evergreen trees such as Japanese black pines (Pinus thunbergii), camphor trees (Cinnamomum camphora), and black ridge oaks (Quercus phillyraeoides) grow densely around the garden east of the pond, shutting out the view outside the garden. Many and various warm-temperate zone plants grow in the garden as well as tall evergreen palm trees such as fountain palms (Livistona chinensis). Among the plants at the garden a variety of bamboo and wisteria create the unique scenery of Tensha-en.
Chikurin-ji Garden
Chikurin-ji was built on an independent hill with abundant spring water. The current main buildings of Chikurin-ji were constructed in the late Edo Period, and it is believed that the garden pond was also made using spring water from that time. The garden consists of three main sections extending around a Kyakuden (reception hall) and a study.
cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments
type : places of scenic beauty
3577 Godaisan, Kōchi-shi, Kōchi-ken 781-8125
Tel：088-882-3085
Home page : www.chikurinji.com
It is believed that Chikurin-ji was founded by Gyoki in 724. It is the 31st pilgrimage site of the 88 temples of Shikoku. The temple was built on an independent hill with abundant spring water. The main buildings of current Chikurin-ji were built in the late Edo Period.
The area facing the south side of a Kyakuden (reception hall) was originally a simple space covered only with gravel for ceremonies. It is believed that stepping stones and trees were added in later years.
The west garden of the Kyakuden has a small water feature. Its edge forms straight stone steps in order to draw water closer under the eaves and give the garden a more spacious appearance. Ornamental stones are placed here and there at the foot of the hill base that borders the water surface as well as on the slope. The garden from the north to the west of the study has three powerful stone arrangements that create a waterfall on the slope. The edge of the pond built along the hill base is protected by large stones. It is believed that the pond was made using spring water.
Next to the gate, there is a memorial museum to Dr. Makino Tomitaro, a world-class botanist, and the Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden.