Monday 22 February 2010

Himeji: a castle town with a garden

Kokoen garden is on the west side of the castle.  It used to be  part of samurai quarters inside the old castle precinct and has recently been turned into gardens.  (1992).  The garden is unusual in that it is compartmentalised with dividing walls into themed gardens:  a garden of seedlings, a garden for tea ceremonies, a summer tree garden, a pine tree garden, a garden with a traditional style pond,  a bamboo garden among others.

Japanese type gardens become more impressive as they get older.  It is definitely worth visiting but in some places the vegetation still looked transplanted, perhaps the fact that it is winter makes it more noticable. 








No comments: