Seibi-en, Japanese garden in Hirakawa, Japan.
Seibi-en is a Japanese garden covering about 12,000 square meters (130,000 square feet) designed as a walk-through landscape. The grounds feature a central pond, stone bridges, carefully positioned stones, and pathways that wind through the space with views of the surrounding Tsugaru plains and distant mountains.
Built between 1902 and 1911 by Seitō Morihide, this garden ranks among the three most notable gardens from Japan's Meiji period. Its creation occurred during an era of significant cultural exchange, when Japan was integrating traditional and Western influences.
The Seibikan building within the garden displays a mixed architectural style with traditional Japanese design on the ground floor and Western-style rooms above. This blend shows how the space reflected Japan's evolving relationship with the outside world in the early 1900s.
The garden is open from mid-April through mid-November and features walking paths, viewing areas, and multiple sections to explore throughout the grounds. Wear comfortable shoes as the paths navigate varying elevations and wind through the entire landscape.
The Studio Ghibli film The Secret World of Arrietty drew inspiration from the garden's spatial arrangement and architectural elements. This connection has given the location a special place in animation culture and attracts fans of the studio.
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