Rikugien Gardens

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Today I went to the Rikugien Gardens, right near Komagome Station, and a few stops before Ueno Park. This garden was originally built in the year 1700, and contained miniature reproductions of 88 scenes from famous poems. Only a few of those reproductions still remain.

I kept the garden information pamphlet, so I should have some real descriptions for the photos.

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Photos

Weeping Cherry Tree
Sometimes the leaves turn pink.

Fish and Turtles
There are many fish in this little pond, they all crowd around if a person goes near the railing.

Fujishiro-toge
This was taken from atop Fujishiro-toge, which is the largest hill in the garden.

Fujishiro-toge 2
A more zoomed in pic.

Sasakani no michi 1
This means something similar to 'Spider Road'. It was called this because the path is very narrow, and was likened to a strand on a spider's web.

Sasakani no michi 2
The path. It really didn't seem all that narrow to me.

Togetsukyo
This stone bridge was named after a famous poem about the view of the moon moving across the sky with the cry of a crane in a rice paddy heard nearby. I have no idea what that means, but it says it in the pamphlet.

Many turtles
Lots and lots.

Togetsukyo 2
Another view.

Naka-no-shima
This is an island in the pond, entry to it is closed off.

Horaijima
A small island in the pond made of stones, created based on a form of mysticism aimed at attaining supernatural power (pamphlet).

Garyu-seki
The name refers to the rock half submerged in the water. It appears to be a sleeping dragon, hence the name "Sleeping Dragon Rock".

Comments

[diana]

gorgeous photos
Matt, These photo's are wonderful, that photography class really paid off! I'm going to paint some of them, what a beautiful place. Mom.