Kairakuen, Japanese garden in Mito, Japan
Kairakuen is a large landscape garden in Mito with roughly 3,000 plum trees in 100 different varieties spread across 13 hectares of land. The grounds include pathways that wind through different sections with trees, water features, and viewing points near Lake Senba.
The garden was founded in 1842 by Tokugawa Nariaki, the ninth feudal lord of Mito, as a space designed for both nobility and common citizens. This marked a shift toward creating shared spaces in feudal Japan.
The garden's name comes from the Chinese classic Mencius and expresses the idea of sharing joy between a ruler and common people. You can sense this philosophy today in how the space welcomes everyone equally.
The garden sits next to Lake Senba and is easy to reach on foot from the town center. Wear comfortable shoes and set aside time for slow walks through the different areas, as the grounds are quite large.
The garden contains the Kobuntei, a three-story wooden villa where each floor features different architectural styles. Each level was designed for different seasonal activities and to offer varying views of the gardens.
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