Suizen-ji Jōju-en
Suizen-ji Jōju-en (水前寺成趣園) is a tsukiyama[1] Japanese garden located within (Suizen-ji Park (水前寺公園, Suizen-ji Kōen) in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. The main tsukiyama is a representation of Mount Fuji. Lord Hosokawa Tadatoshi began construction of the garden in 1636 as a tea retreat. The park was named after a no-longer-extant Buddhist temple called Suizen-ji, and now hosts Izumi Shrine, where members of the Hosokawa family are enshrined, and a Nōgaku-dō, a Noh theater. Lord Hosokawa selected this site because of its spring-fed pond, which clean water was excellent for tea.[2] The thatched Kokin-Denju-no-Ma teahouse was originally in Kyoto's Imperial Palace, but was moved here in 1912, and the garden has been declared by the national government a historic site of scenic beauty.
Suizenji Park
Suizenji Kōen is an interesting and much visited venue, featuring miniature landscapes, a temple and small lakes containing large, hungry, and multi-coloured carp. It is a short tram ride from the city. Lots of shops await the local tourist yen.
See also
Gallery
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The pond -
The pond -
The Kokin-Denju-no-Ma teahouse -
The Yabusame (horseback archery) riding ground -
An arched bridge -
Replica of Mount Fuji -
Izumi Shrine -
A large carp in the park -
Statue of Hosokawa Tadatoshi
Notes
- ^ Tsukiyama gardens are Japanese gardens featuring an artificial mountain (a tsukiyama).
- ^ "Pylant, Don D. Japanese Gardening Organization - Suizenji Park". Botanysaurus. 2001-10-11. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
References
- Explore Japan, Suizenji Garden accessed on August 31, 2009
