The Best of Japan: The Three Great Gardens!
by papaleng on 10/01/11 at 11:29 pm
A compact article detailing Japan’s "Three Great Gardens".
Besides being one of the highly-industrialized nations in the world and a major contributor to top-of-the-line modern technology, Japan shows a major impact to world tourism. Blessed with Nature’s admirable beauties and rich in cultural treasures, Japan is a great travel destination for tourists! In this 7-part series, join this author to explore the “Land of the Rising Sun” enormous beautiful sceneries. Let’s start by touring Japan’s “Three Great Gardens”.
Kairakuen Garden
Considered one of Japan’s great gardens, Kairaku-en Garden, is a sprawling 18-acre landscape garden located in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Sitting on top of a hill, this beautiful garden offers a panoramic
view of its surrounding forests and lakes. Tokugawa Nariaki, a Mito clan lord, built the strolling garden in 1841.
Kairaku-en garden is popular for its 3000-plus Japanese plum trees. The best time to visit this garden is around March, where some 100 different cultivars of plum trees are in full bloom. Besides the red, white, and pink varieties of plum trees, the garden offers other eye-catching trees and plants. Depending on the season, visitors will have their time gazing at beautiful flame-red azalea, cherry blossoms, snow-white bush clover, magnolia and camellia.
Kairaku-en garden is open to the public all-year round. Entry to the large public park is free, but visitors will have to shell out 190 yen to enter the Kobun-tei. The garden is open from 9am to 5pm. The best mode of transportation is by train.
Kenrokuen Garden
One of the many must-see sites in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan, is the Kenroku-en (Six Attributes Garden), a strolling garden seated next to the Kanazawa Castle. Construction of the garden began in 1676 initiated by the ruling Maeda clan and only in May 7, 1874 that commoners had time to gazed at its beauty. Kenroku-en covers more than 25 acres that is filled of more 8,750 trees and more than 180 varieties of plants such as plum and cherry blossoms, Japanese maple trees, irises and azaleas.
Besides gazing at the beauty of the flowers and trees, Kenroku-en has much more to offer to visitors. These added attractions includes: ponds, rivers, waterfalls, streams, bridges, four teahouses, and stone lanterns. In particular, visitors should not miss these places; Meiji Monument, Neagari Matsu (Raised Roots Pine), the two-legged Kotoji-tōrō stone lantern, Gankō-bashi bridge, Kaiseki Pagoda, Shigure-tei tea houses, Hisago-ike, Kaisekito Pagoda, and Midori-taki Waterfall.
Kenroku-en is open to the public year-round where visitors can reach the place by means of buses. The garden is open from 9am – 5pm. Admission fee: Senior citizens (65 years old and over) and children below 6 years old – free of charge, Adults – 300 Yen, Individuals (6-18 years old) -100 Yen.
Kōrakuen Garden
Located in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, Kōraku-en ( the garden of later enjoyment), is an Edo era garden covering nearly 70,000-sq-meter. Famous for its plum trees and irises, the garden was constructed in 1700 by built by Tokugawa Yorifusa and was finished in the reign of Tokugawa Mitsukuni. Koraku-en is one of Tokyo’s most visited gardens.
Koraku-en which incorporates Chinese and Japanese sceneries contains more than 4000 trees and over 160 different varieties of flowering plants. These includes plum trees, maple trees, cherry trees, pine trees, nutmeg trees, irises, azaleas, lotuses, amaryllises and water lilies. One particular place to see is the Engetsu-kyō (Full-Moon Bridge) is a must-see place for tourists.
The garden is open from 9 am-5 pm 24 days a week but closed from December 20 – January 1. Admission fee is 300 yen.
Liked it
alvinwriter
Jan 10th, 2011
These are so pristine. Are there any gardening businesses that do this kind of landscaping locally?
crisdiwata
Jan 10th, 2011
These are beautiful gardens, I would love to visit them kaso expired na visa ko eh hehehe!
LCM Linda
Jan 10th, 2011
They are beautiful gardens, I hope to visit them one by one in the future.
serowa
Jan 11th, 2011
Woow, very beautiful! It really awakens my adventurous nature. Now I see that Japan will be a place that I probaly will visit.
Anuradha Ramkumar
Jan 11th, 2011
Beautiful gardens…
kraehe
Jan 11th, 2011
wow! yung 2nd pic lagi ko nakikita sa anime.
The Quail 1957
Jan 11th, 2011
Great article! I would love to visit everyone of these gardens!
Ima Vee
Jan 11th, 2011
Wonderful gardens. I love the third one. Iyang Kōrakuen Garden… Very natural looking…Sana makapunta ako diyan… Nice share… :]
lapasan
Jan 11th, 2011
Those are gardens that are nice to visit– if I have the money.
Stable
Jan 11th, 2011
They look beautiful. I’d love to visit Japan
Neilvert Noval
Jan 11th, 2011
Wow! Nice place to visit. Would like to visit Japan someday.
albert1jemi
Jan 11th, 2011
Nice article
Sourav
Jan 11th, 2011
Very beautiful.
Purnomosidhi
Jan 11th, 2011
Wow, wonderful!
nz2rdfox
Jan 11th, 2011
Hmmm..the more that I’m dying to have my own camera someday..there are plenty of beautiful places here as well.
But I love this post..its AWESOME and breath taking papaleng
Christine Ramsay
Jan 11th, 2011
Thanks for a wonderful and scenic tour of Japan’s gardens, Papaleng. They certainly are beautiful.
Christine
ronthoughts
Jan 11th, 2011
Beautiful gardens my friend, thank you.
SowmyaT
Jan 11th, 2011
Beautiful, Thanks..
SharifaMcFarlane
Jan 11th, 2011
Japanese gardens are really beautiful. I have always admired them and I’m glad for the opportunity to see them first hand, and be able to observe some of the techniques that are used to create them. Thank you for this tribute to them my friend.
lonelyplanet
Jan 11th, 2011
Fantastic travel post with images.
Likha
Jan 11th, 2011
Japan is popular for their gardens. The closest I got to their garden is in Luneta. lol. Well done Papa.
Lord Banks
Jan 11th, 2011
Those gardens are amazing! wow would I like a wander around those if I could walk! great article. LB
gb1269
Jan 11th, 2011
Stress-free gardens
Betty Carew
Jan 11th, 2011
Awesome gardens Papa. I would love to visit some of these. The pictures are breathtaking. Great post Papa
Starpisces
Jan 11th, 2011
envy Sharifa… nice gardens of Japan. The closest I got to the garden is Japanese Garden at Singapore, heehee, but… it has been many years ago also, lol.
Phoenix Montoya
Jan 11th, 2011
I always wanted to go to Japan. This is an enjoyable tour kuya, thanks.
cyrenjan
Jan 11th, 2011
I so like it! Japan is a indeed a must-go country. Nice one papaleng. It’s really nice!
pearl2010
Jan 11th, 2011
Amazing. Great post!
mtrguanlao
Jan 11th, 2011
A friend of mine lives in Japan and she’s been telling me about those beautiful gardens and now that I saw your article,it proves to be true! Nice photos Idol!
bobie
Jan 11th, 2011
wow nice naman nito . .how i wish na makapunta ako jan .. hehe .. most popular agad itong article.
Jimmy Shilaho
Jan 11th, 2011
This is very beautiful.
joelan19
Jan 11th, 2011
Great article, spectacular pics! Thanks, papaleng!
Brewed Coffee
Jan 11th, 2011
I could spend hours in these gardens and never grow tired of the scenery. I love seeing those bright colors and lazing under the trees, contemplating about life.
Payge
Jan 11th, 2011
Fantastic pics and well article and well worth reading my friend.Makes me want to jump on a plane and spend hour after hour after hour spending time in them.The tranquility ,water and bright colors would be an excellent place for me to write ,write and write until all of the ideas was all wrote out.
Yovita Siswati
Jan 11th, 2011
So peaceful and serene. Perfect places for a gateaway. Thanks Papaleng.
AJ Garcia
Jan 11th, 2011
Wow, so beautiful….I could sense nature’s energy in these mesmerizing gardens.
Angela Faith
Jan 12th, 2011
To think over 3000 plum trees and acres and acres of formal manicured gardens. How heavenly. Beautiful article. Photos magnificent not to mention detailed enhancing captions. Ty
guraynsj
Jan 12th, 2011
Good information. Thanks!
Esoranna
Jan 12th, 2011
i wish i can go there in japan someday
UncleSammy
Jan 12th, 2011
Lovely- Nice share, thanks see you around
CHAN LEE PENG
Jan 12th, 2011
Japan is a great tourist spot. Those gardens are beautiful.
Ruby Hawk
Jan 12th, 2011
Beautiful places, I would love to visit them all.
Tulan
Jan 12th, 2011
these gardens are beautiful.
Suni51
Jan 12th, 2011
A Very nice article, I like it. Thanks for sharing. This is one of the best I read today.
Edsss
Jan 13th, 2011
wow! those are gardens are like heaven! nice post papaleng!
Mystical Whitewolf
Jan 14th, 2011
Beautiful post these gardens are at the top of my to-do list. Thank you for visiting and commenting on my site. I had so many feeds come across my screen and after commenting on another person article I could not find this one that I wanted to go to next. Thanks to your comment I was able to find it fast and easy.
It is good to see you posting more Papa, thank you for always supporting and commenting on my articles this means a lot to me from a wonderful friend as yourself.
Sharif Ishnin
Jan 14th, 2011
It’s the place to be. I’m awed by the amazing photos. Lovely and brilliant post.
K V Venkataramana
Jan 14th, 2011
Nice post and excellent pictures.
dloriginal
Jan 16th, 2011
Beautiful gardens, lovely pictures. Great article.
rubielee
Jan 16th, 2011
ganda nila .. pero mas maraming beautiful places dito sa korea
J M Lennox
Jan 17th, 2011
These are beautiful gardens. It was lovely to see them. Thanks.
valli
Jan 19th, 2011
Wow, beautiful!
eddiego65
Jan 22nd, 2011
Lovely and serene. Excellent post, bro.
joan retiro
Jan 22nd, 2011
WOW! those pictures are serene! Excellent article.Ikinagagalak ko po kayong makilala.