Zuihōji Park, Urban park in Arima Onsen, Japan.
Zuihōji Park is a public garden built on the grounds of a former Buddhist temple in Arima, featuring maple trees and historic structures scattered throughout. The park spreads across hilly terrain with paths that wind between the trees and connect various stone elements and old structures.
The site began as Zuihoji Temple in 1604 and served as a religious center for over 300 years before becoming a public park in 1951. During this transformation, a historic gate from Fushimi Momoyama Castle was preserved and integrated into the park design.
The name comes from the temple that once stood here, and you can still sense its spiritual origins in the layout and quiet corners. People gather in these gardens to enjoy tea ceremonies and simple moments of reflection.
The park sits about 20 minutes on foot from Arima Onsen Station and offers free entry year-round. Comfortable shoes are helpful for navigating the hilly paths, and you can visit anytime to see how the space changes with the seasons.
A stone Go board in the park connects to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a historical military leader who loved spending hours playing this strategy game in these very grounds. The board serves as a quiet reminder of his presence in the area.
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