Kōraku-en, Daimyo garden in Kita-ku, Japan.
Kōraku-en is a daimyo garden in Kita-ku that covers roughly 14 hectares and ranks among the three most celebrated landscape gardens in Japan. The grounds are organized around a central pond with several small islands, wooden and stone bridges, winding paths, open lawns, and traditional structures such as tea houses and pavilions that fit naturally into the surrounding scenery.
Ikeda Tsunamasa, the second lord of Okayama domain, commissioned Tsuda Nagatada to design the garden in 1687, and the work was finished in 1700. The grounds have remained largely unchanged over the centuries, though parts required restoration after World War II.
Local visitors often walk through the grounds early in the morning to start their day in a calm setting, a long-standing habit rooted in Japanese garden culture. Families gather beneath the cherry trees during spring, sharing food and conversation as they participate in the seasonal tradition of blossom viewing together.
The garden opens daily in the morning and closes around dusk, with exact hours shifting slightly with the seasons. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes for the paths and plan enough time to explore the full grounds at a relaxed pace.
Engetsu-kyo, one of Japan's earliest stone arch bridges, spans a narrow passage and reflects in the pond as a perfect circle when the water is still. Visitors often notice the unexpected rice paddies within the grounds, originally planted as a teaching tool so the young feudal lord could understand the life of farmers.
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