Distributor :  Sandra Sayonira

We’ve spent a bit of our time in Kenroku-en, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan.

When I enter the gate, a world of green created by the mossy grounds and trees extends in every direction, followed by various beautiful aspects of Japanese gardens that dwell in harmony with nature, such as a teahouse by a lake, a wide variety of beautiful sights, a riverside with stone lanterns, a waterfall and fountain, and well-manicured flowers. In the teahouse, you can experience a tea ceremony.

One of the spots you will want to visit in the city is a huge Japanese garden, Kenroku-en, which is one of the three great gardens in Japan. Kenroku-en, which means “the garden that combines six attributes,” is said to be so named because it miraculously holds six elements that should conflict if existing in one garden: “spaciousness and seclusion,” “artifice and antiquity,” and “waterways and panoramas.” The garden was shaped for a period of over 100 years through several generations of the Kaga domain’s lords. It is composed of many ponds, winding streams connecting these ponds, mounds made of turned soil, various trees, and tea houses at spots throughout the garden. Because visitors can enjoy seeing around the garden while dropping in at these spots, this type of garden is called “a strolling garden,” and Kenroku-en is a typical example.

If you want to fully enjoy Kenroku-en Garden, you will need to walk for about 90 minutes and 1,300 meters. There are already many beautiful spots that make you stop strolling and see each of them in the garden; however, you will have even more to see in other seasons offering different views, especially in winter. In order to protect the branches of pine trees from heavy snow, a pole is set up and holds up the branches of trees with ropes. This is called “Yukitsuri,” and together with the views of lanterns covered with snow, it is a common sight in the garden in winter months. In spring, the garden is filled with pink cherry blossoms, while it is colored by fresh greenery in summer and covered by red leaves in autumn.