Hokuriku, Koushinetsu」カテゴリーアーカイブ

Hokuriku, Koushinetsu

Teikan-en

This is a garden with a grove and pond created in the mid-Edo Period. The landscaping method is from Kyoto, but local characteristics, such as an ample usage of Sado’s Akadama (red ball earth), can be seen in the garden. There are more than one hundred varieties of moss such as haircap moss (Polytrichum) and great scented liverwort (Conocephalum conicum) in the garden, and it is truly a rare moss garden only after Saiho-ji in Kyoto, which is famous for its moss garden.


cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments 
type : places of scenic beauty, historic sites

593 Takayanagichō Okanomachi, Kashiwazaki-shi, Niigata-ken 945-1502
Tel:0257-41-2100

Home page : www.teikanen.jp/


This is a garden with a grove and pond from the mid-Edo Period. This was a garden of the Murayama Family, who was a powerful village headman. Kameishi, the 8th head of the family, invited Kudan Niemon and Fujii Tomonoshin, who were the gardeners retained by the Shogunate, to work on the landscape.
In 1843, Aizawa Nanjo, a Confucian scholar from Echigo, named the garden after a segment of a poetry by Xie Lingyun, who was a poet from the Six Dynasties of China. It reads “he leaves a traditional formal court dress behind and admires beautiful scenery of hills and valleys.” It is said that Xie Lingyun was a poet who often created poetries to admire the beauty of mountains and water with delicate expressions. There is a pond with waterfalls in front of a hall called Teikan-do. There are buildings such as tearooms called Kanbaku-tei, Yotsutoki-an, Hogetsu-ro and Kansui-ken, as well as numerous garden stones around the garden. It is in a Kyoto style of gardening as the Kobori Enshu style was implemented and it was modeled after the Katsura-rikyu palace, but the garden also has a local flavor such as an ample usage of Sado’s Akadama (red ball earth). There are more than one hundred varieties of moss such as haircap moss (Polytrichum) and great scented liverwort (Conocephalum conicum) in the garden, and it is truly a rare moss garden only after Saiho-ji in Kyoto, which is famous for its moss garden.

Garden of the Watanabe Family

It is said that it was built around the mid-Edo Period, but an actual date is unknown. A gardener of the Enshu-ryu style was invited from Kyoto to participate in the landscaping. The landscape of the garden from the mid-Edo Period is very well preserved and there is a pond shaped like the character for “heart (Kokoro).” The garden has a beautiful arrangement of Tsukiyama (artificial hills), dry waterfall, sandy beach, and stone lanterns around the pond, as well as an enclosure of the well in the north.


cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments 
type : places of scenic beauty

904 Shimoseki, Sekikawa-mura, Iwafune-gun, Niigata-ken 959-3265
Tel:0254-64-1002

Home page : www.watanabetei.com


This was a garden in the residence of the Watanabe Family, who was a wealthy merchant, farmer and village headman in Echigo Shimonoseki. The garden is open to the east and there is a pond shaped like the character for “heart (Kokoro).” There is a writing with ink from 1769 on a ridge pole in the South Garden, thus it is presumed that the garden was made around that time. There are three Tsukiyama (artificial hills) in the west of the pond, named Ichinoyama (First Hill), Ninoyama (Second Hill) and Sannoyama (Third Hill). There is a stone of Fudo on Ichinoyama and it represents a dry waterfall. On the opposite side of the pond, in the east, there is a beach of round stones with numerous garden stones. Many stepping stones as well as some plants, that are liken to a crane and turtle, are also arranged. Visitors can enjoy views from season to season; white plum blossoms in spring, Japanese irises (Iris laevigata) in summer, Japanese maple in fall and a snowscape in winter.
The garden’s layout is the so-called Kyoto style as a stone lantern and enclosure of the well are tastefully arranged to add elegance to the garden.
The landscape of the garden from the mid-Edo Period is very well preserved and it is considered to be very important in the history of Japanese gardens as this is an example of the culture spreading from a large city to the countryside.

Kyu Shibata-han villa of the Mizoguchi Family(Shimizudani Palace)Daimyo garden

This is a Daimyo garden that represents Echigo (Niigata). It was built in the Genroku Era (1688-1704), as part of the Shimizudani Palace, a villa of the Mizoguchi Family. The villa itself was built in 1658 in the early Edo Period. Shimizudani Garden and nearby Ijimino-ochaya well preserve uniquely different gardens. They are valuable in the sense that they were built under the instructions of a leader of Buke Sado (the art of the tea ceremony of samurai families), who visited the sites frequently.


cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments 
type : places of scenic beauty

7-9-32 Daieichō, Shibata-shi, Niigata-ken 957-0056
0254-22-2659


his garden was built at a villa of the Mizoguchi Family, who controlled the Kanbara Plain. The construction started in 1598, and the garden continued to evolve well into the Edo Period.
After building the Shimizudani Palace, the family invited Agata Sochi, a tea ceremony master of the Shogunate, to receive instructions for garden design, and completed Shimizudani and Ijimino Gardens as well as a garden at Hokke-ji during the Genroku Era (1688-1704). Shimizudani Garden is a stroll garden with a large pond at the center. A Tsukiyama (artificial hill) is located at the southern-most point of the garden, and the pond meanders at both sides to broaden the water surface. There are Suhama (a sandy beach) to the left and a stone arrangement representing a steep cape to the right at the pond shore. Large and small Nakajima (central islands) are placed in the pond, where an arbor is built in such a way that part of the structure  overcasts the water surface. The pond is narrower in the middle, which has the effect of broadening the front and back portions of the water surface. This is a good example of the layout of a Daimyo garden from the past.
Ijimino-ochaya is a villa of the lord, where he and his group made preparations for the alternate attendance in Edo. It was also open to senior statesmen as an amusement facility, such as a tea room. The garden places its focus on viewing plants, such as Japanese cedars (Cryptomeria japonica) and pines around the pond and on a gently-sloped Tsukiyama (artificial hill), Japanese white pines (Pinus parviflora) on Dejima (peninsula), and plum trees near the tea house. The garden is designed spaciously by placing only a few stone arrangements.

Kenroku-en

The construction of this garden started when the 5th lord of the Kaga Domain, Maeda Tsunanori, created Renchi-tei (a lotus pond and garden) in 1676. The construction continued over many years by the successive lords of the Kaga Domain. The garden was significantly renovated during the time of the 13th lord, Maeda Nariyasu, to draw water from a distant Tatsumi water channel to the pond. Diverse waterscapes including a waterfall, a meandering stream and a fountain were also added to the garden.


cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments 
type : places of special scenic beauty

1 Kenrokumachi, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa-ken 920-0936
Tel:076-221-5508


This is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Its construction started when the 5th lord of the Kaga Domain, Maeda Tsunanori, created Renchi-tei (lotus pond and garden) in 1676. The construction continued over many years by the successive lords of the Kaga Domain. It was created by adopting the components of a stroll garden while utilizing garden techniques of various eras. The design takes advantage of the size of the site by placing a large pond in the middle, creating a Tsukiyama (artificial hill), and placing an arbor and a tea house where visitors can take a break while enjoying the garden. The foundation of the garden design came from Shenxian thought (ancient Chinese folk belief in the existence of immortal hermits in the mountain). A large pond was made to resemble the ocean, placing an island representing one where immortal mountain hermits would live, and adding various trees to create seasonal beauty.
The garden was significantly renovated during the time of the 13th lord, Maeda Nariyasu, to draw water from a distant Tatsumi water channel to the pond. Diverse waterscapes including a waterfall, a meandering stream and a fountain were also added to the garden.

Seison-kaku Garden

It was built at the south of Kenroku-en as the main garden of Tatsumi Palace in 1863 (the Bunkyu Era of the Edo Period). From the end of the Shogunate throughout the Meiji and Taisho Eras to the Showa Era, the garden continued to be improved by adding a Tsukiyama (artificial hill) and rebuilding the waterway. It is a flat garden that has outstanding harmony with a clean stream.


cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments 
type : places of scenic beauty

1-2 Kenrokumachi, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa-ken 920-0936
Tel:076-221-0580

Home page : www.seisonkaku.com


Seison-kaku Garden is adjacent to the south of Kenroku-en, a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. It originated in Tatsumi Palace and its main garden was built as a retirement villa for Shinryuin, mother of the 13th lord of the Kaga Domain, Maeda Nariyasu in 1863.
The main garden Hikaku-tei is a serene flat garden with a stream, facing Seika-ken with a study, a tea room and Mizuya (a washing place for a tea ceremony).
Tatsumi Palace was renamed to Seison-kaku in 1874. Around this time, water was drawn from the main garden to create a stream flowing through a courtyard facing the veranda of the “Corridor of Omoto (Japanese sacred lily),” and a Tsukiyama (artificial hill) was placed to create a serene landscape.
In 1909 (the Meiji Era), when Togu (Taisho Emperor) visited the Hokuriku area, a main gate, a carriage driveway, and an entrance were added to the front garden. Also, in the courtyard facing the veranda of the “Tsukushi-no Corridor,” the existing Noh stage was removed and the waterway from the main garden was changed from a straight line to a curve to create a simple landscape.  
It is said that the current Seison-kaku layout consisting of the main garden, courtyard, and front yard was completed in 1949.  It is a flat garden that has evolved over time to create outstanding harmony with a clean stream.

Kuri at Natadera temple Garden

The garden was built at the same time as the construction of Kuri (living quarters of monks) at Natadera temple in 1635. Stepping stones are arranged from Nyoze-an (tea room) at the west side to a small pond at the east side, and rocks are placed at intervals. The garden also has old trees such as a large chinquapin (Castanopsis sieboldii) in the northern corner and tall Japanese cedars (Cryptomeria japonica) on the opposite side of the east pond. This is a garden with absolutely serene scenery.


cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments 
type : places of scenic beauty

122 Natamachi yu, Komatsu-shi, Ishikawa-ken 923-0336
Tel:0761-65-2111

Home page : www.natadera.com/spot/#shointeien


Natadera is a well-known temple of the Shingon sect that is said to have been founded when Taicho Daishi placed a Thousand-armed Kan’non in a stone cave. The temple fell into ruin due to fires during the Azuchi and Momoyama Period, but it was reconstructed by the 3rd lord of the Kaga Domain, Maeda Toshitsune, in Kan’ei 1836. The garden and Kuri (living quarters of monks) were constructed at the same time. It is told that they received instructions from Kobori Enshu and a Commissioner of Garden Design, 別部ト斉, took charge of building the garden.
The main section is located in the north, behind the study and the main temple. Stepping stones are arranged to connect a tea room Nyoze-an in the northwest corner with the east garden along with a pond via the back of the study. Rocks are placed at intervals along the path. At the northeast of the garden and at the corner of the study, triad stones are arranged to create the main scenery of the garden.
Old trees densely grow in the garden, including a large chinquapin (Castanopsis sieboldii) at the north corner and tall Japanese cedars (Cryptomeria japonica) on the opposite side of the east pond. When a poet Matsuo Basho visited Natadera during his trip to Komatsu, he created a famous poem, “Autumn wind, whiter than white stones of the stone mountain.

Garden of the Ito Family

This garden was built by Ito Sukezaemon, doctor and head of the Ito Family who were the village headmen over multiple generations. The garden was designed based on a garden picture book that became popular during the Kyoho Era of the Edo Period. Since it well preserves the original state, it is an important piece not only for its esthetic value but also as historical material concerning gardens.


cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments 
type : places of scenic beauty

29−2 Seto, Minamiechizen-cho, Nanjo- gun, Fukui-ken 919-0113

Home page : www.town.minamiechizen.lg.jp/kurasi/103/128/p001179.html


This garden was designed based on a garden design book “Tsukiyama-niwatsukuri-den,” which was compiled and became popular from the mid- to late Edo Period. It was built by Ito Sukezaemon, doctor and the 10th head of the Ito Family who were the village headmen over multiple generations.
The garden features the principal stone on the front Tsukiyama (artificial hill), a lotus stone in the front, a mountain slope stone to the right, and a stone of Fudo to the left. A Dejima (peninsula), Nakajima (central island), Funaishi (boat stone) and a stone bridge are placed in the garden pond at the foot of the Tsukiyama.The pond shore along the building has a worshipping stone in the middle and two deity stones on both ends. This is a Tsukiyama garden with a grove and a pond that is meant to be viewed while sitting in the building. An enormous Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata) grows at the east side of the garden, and maples, rhododendrons, and sasanquas are planted throughout.
The garden is believed to have preserved the original state, and visitors can see the authentic design of a traditional Japanese garden as it faithfully followed the instructions of the garden design book at the time.

Jofuku-ji Garden

The garden was built at Kuri (living quarters of monks) of Jofuku-ji, a temple of the Izumoji school of the Shin sect, in the mid-Edo Period. It is a Karesansui garden at the south of the temple and uses the view of Mt. Fumuro and other Hino mountains as borrowed scenery over the front hedge. The garden is an excellent example of landscape techniques during the mid-Edo Period.


cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments 
type : places of scenic beauty

11-26 Gobuichichō, Echizen-shi, Fukui-ken 915-0026
Tel:0778-27-1773


This is a garden built for Kuri (living quarters of monks) at Jofuku-ji, a temple of the Izumoji school (the Shin sect), in the mid-Edo Period. It is told that Jofuku-ji and its precinct were relocated to the current location in 1624.
The garden is located at the south of the Kuri. It is a Karesansui (dry landscape) garden with borrowed scenery of the Hino mountains, such as Mt. Fumuro,  which can be enjoyed over the front hedge. The garden well preserves landscape techniques of the mid-Edo Period.
A low Tsukiyama (artificial hill) is placed at the south of the study, and the principal stone is installed  at the center of the Tsukiyama. The foot of the Tsukiyama has flat stone arrangements representing the pond shore, and Tateishi (standing stones) are placed as deity stones on both ends.
The area in the front is flat and covered with moss. The worshipping stone is located at the center, and a turtle island, a crane island, and a boat island are arranged in the area.
The Tsukiyama has a large tree of false holly (Osmanthus heterophyllus) on top.
There are not many materials that indicate when the garden was built, but it is a good example of a flat Karesansui garden created in the mid-Edo Period.

Garden of the Ichijōdani Asakura Family

This is a collection of garden remains discovered along with the remnants of the Ichijodani Asakura Family historic site dating back to the Warring States Period during the excavation. They are located in Kidonouchi-cho, a southern suburb of Fukui City. Although the gardens are excavated remains, they are valuable materials that preserve the outstanding culture of warlords at the end of the Muromachi Period.


cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments 
type : places of special scenic beauty

28-37 Kidonouchicho, Fukui-shi, Fukui-ken 910-2153
Tel:0776-41-2173

Home page : www.fukuisan.jp/ja/asakura/index.html


This is a collection of gardens that were excavated along with building remains of the Warring States Period during the survey of the Ichijodani Asakura Family historic site. The site is located in the Kidonouchi community, in the southern suburb of Fukui City, that includes the Ichijodani River. The remains include three-dimensional stone (tuff breccia) arrangements with mountains as its background. A number of garden remnants include a garden with a grove and a pond where garden stone arrangements are placed around the pond, a simple and refined flat Karesansui (dry landscape) garden with a few Tateishi (standing stones)/Fuseishi (reclining stones) and pebbles, and more. The three gardens that belonged to the remains of Yudono, Suwa-yakata, Nan’yo-ji had stone arrangements exposed to the ground and had been known as outstanding gardens. They were designated as the Places of Scenic Beauty in 1930, but fell into ruin again. In 1967, the three gardens were improved by removing bushes and accumulated debris in the ponds. In 1987, stone channels and culverts for drawing water to the ponds were excavated at the remains of Yudono and Suwa-yakata. Four gardens have been excavated, and the one at the Yudono remains is believed to be the oldest, while the other three were built in the time of Asakura Yoshikage (1533-1573). Although these are excavated remains, they are valuable materials that preserve the outstanding culture of warlords at the end of the Muromachi Period.

Garden of the Umeda Family

This is a garden with a grove and a pond at the residence of the Umeda Family, a local ruling family who were the powerful village headmen of Ikeda-go. The garden features old growth of Japanese cedars (Cryptomeria japonica), Japanese red pines (Pinus densiflora), and Japanese firs (Abies firma) with Mt. Takao and Mt. Atago as borrowed scenery, creating a serene landscape. The garden preserves the characteristic features of the late Muromachi Period, and is important for understanding the diffusion of garden culture in this region.


cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments 
type : places of scenic beauty

33-8-1 Taniguchi, Ikeda-machi, Imadate District, Fukui-ken 910-2503
Tel:0778-44-6106

Home page : https://umeda-teien.jp


This is a garden with a grove and a pond at the residence of the Umeda Family, a local ruling family who were the powerful village headmen of Ikeda-go. The garden features a curved pond in the front, and water-crossing stones and a natural stone bridge are placed in the middle of the pond. A waterway is drawn from the far right, which is then divided into two streams to form waterfalls on both sides of Nakajima (a central island). A large boulder is placed at the front left as the center of the scenery, and stones are arranged at key points around the boulder. The streams and the pond have edges protected by stone arrangements. Large stepping stones are placed between the building and the pond at wide intervals.
There is a high mountain to the right, and the far-left section of the garden has old growth of Japanese cedars (Cryptomeria japonica), Japanese red pines (Pinus densiflora), and Japanese firs (Abies firma) with Mt. Takao and Mt. Atago as borrowed scenery. Many parts of the garden are covered with moss, creating a mystic landscape. The garden preserves the characteristic features of the late Muromachi Period, and is important for understanding the diffusion of garden culture in this region.

Takidan-ji Garden

This garden belongs to a temple of the Chizan school (the Shingon sect) built in 1375 during the Eiwa Era of the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The garden itself was believed to have been made between the Keicho Era and the mid-Edo Period. It is built on a hillside, and each of its four sides is designed to serve as a front.


cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments 
type : places of scenic beauty

1-7-15 Mikunichō Takidani, Sakai-shi, Fukui-ken 913-0054
Tel:0776-82-0216


Takidan-ji is a temple of the Chizan school (the Shingon sect) founded in 1375 during the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The garden stretches from the main temple to the study, and is a Sansui (mountain-and-water) garden that utilizes the south hillside at the north of the main temple.
This garden is unique in a way that all sides are designed to be the front. A pond was made by curbing an exposed rock at the foot of the slope in the front of the building. Viewing the pond from the building, visitors can see large chinquapins (Castanopsis sieboldii), Japanese firs (Abies firma), and Japanese umbrella trees (Sciadopitys verticillata) in the back as well as old pines scattering on the front slope. Azaleas that are trimmed low are planted among the pines. There are also rocks with lanterns on top.
Takidan-ji has old buildings such as Chinju-do (a hall of Tutelary Deities of Land). Literature related to the temple and a number of cultural properties including a Buddhist sound instrument (金銅毛彫宝相華唐草文磬; National Treasure) and statues of Buddha are displayed in the repository.

Seifuku-ji Shoin Garden

This is a garden at Seifuku-ji, a temple said to have been founded by Ryonyo Shonin of the Chinzei school of the Jodo sect. Although the date of its creation is not known, it is believed that the garden was built around 1747 (the Enkyo Era of the Edo Period) when its closely-related Amida Hall was reconstructed. It is told that this Shoin-style garden (garden that belongs to a traditional Japanese residential architecture with a study) represents the Pure Land of Bliss. The garden is famous for its beautiful fall colors.


cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments 
type : places of scenic beauty

13−7 Hara, Tsuruga-shi, Fukui-ken 914-0824
Tel:0770-22-3926

Home page:http://www.saifukuji.jp/


This is a garden at Seifuku-ji, a temple said to have been founded by Ryonyo Shonin of the Chinzei school of the Jodo sect. There is a basin in the mid-section of the mountain behind the garden, where large boulders of granite are clustered and a pine forest as well as a mixed forest with pines densely grow in the northwest and the northeast respectively. Low shrubs such as azaleas and other trees such as chinquapins (Castanopsis sieboldii) and Chinese bayberries (Morella rubra) are planted in the basin.
The garden uses the form of the mountain as its background and there is a pond at the foot of the mountain. The pond has an elongated shape and is located along the Amida Hall. There are three Nakajima (central islands) and stone bridges in the pond. In the northwest section of the pond, there are two large natural boulders instead of a waterfall stone arrangement. Water goes through a conduit placed on a wall made by piling up stones on top of the two natural stones. There is no Mizuwake-ishi (water-dividing stone). Water drains from the northeastern corner.
Although the date of its creation is not known, it is believed that the garden was built around 1747 when its closely-related Amida Hall was reconstructed. It is told that this Shoin-style garden (garden that belongs to a traditional Japanese residential architecture with a study) represents the Pure Land of Bliss. The garden is famous for its beautiful fall colors.

Kyu Gensei-in Garden

The garden is believed to have been built by Governor Hosokawa Musahi-no-kami Takakuni in 1531 (the Kyoroku Era of the Muromachi Period). This is a garden of Gensei-in, a sub-temple of the former Heisen-ji of the Tendai sect, and the oldest existing garden in the Hokuriku region. More than 200 species of moss grow throughout the garden, creating a mystic landscape.


cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments 
type : places of scenic beauty

56-63 Heisenji Heisenjicho, Katsuyama-shi, Fukui-ken 911-0822
Tel:0779-88-1591


This is a garden of Gensei-in, a sub-temple of former Heisen-ji of the Tendai sect, and it is believed that the garden was built by Governor Hosokawa Musashi-no-kami Takakuni in 1531 in the Muromachi Period. It is a stroll Karesansui (dry landscape) garden located at the east of the building. There is a Tsukiyama (artificial hill) on the front upper level, and a dry pond is placed in front of the Tsukiyama. The principal stone is set on the highest point of the Tsukiyama. Stones are arranged in a spiral with the principal stone at the center to represent a waterfall. There is a stone arrangement to the far left of the pond, which also represents a waterfall. In the dry pond, a crane island and a turtle island are placed, and a stone bridge is installed near the turtle island. More than 200 species of moss carpet the entire garden, creating a mystic landscape. Behind the garden, old trees of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), Japanese fir (Abies firma), and maple grow densely. The slope halfway up the hill is dotted with young cedars, among which stand azaleas and a few stone lanterns. Altogether, they give the garden a quiet and elegant appearance.