Rakusan-en, Traditional Japanese garden in Kanra, Japan
Rakusan-en is a strolling garden covering about 23,000 square meters centered around a large pond with an island made of 48 stones representing Japanese hiragana characters. The grounds combine water features, bridges, walking paths, and planted areas in a carefully composed landscape design.
The garden was created in the early Edo Period under Oda Nobukatsu, son of the famous warlord Oda Nobunaga, as a residence for the daimyo of Obata Domain. It reflects the refined garden design traditions that were part of elite warrior culture during that era.
Two tea houses sit within the grounds where visitors can observe traditional Japanese tea ceremonies being conducted. These spaces follow classical design principles and show how such rituals have been part of garden life for centuries.
The grounds are open to visitors on most days and feature clearly marked paths for exploring the entire space. A slow pace allows you to enjoy views of the pond and surrounding landscape from different vantage points throughout your visit.
The garden incorporates the natural landscape of neighboring hills and mountains into its composition as an intentional design choice. This technique, called borrowed scenery, makes the surrounding terrain feel like an extension of the cultivated grounds.
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