Ritsurin Garden, Feudal garden in Takamatsu, Japan.
Ritsurin Garden is a 75-hectare daimyō strolling garden at the foot of Mt. Shiun in Takamatsu, designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty in 1953. Its south garden holds six interconnected ponds and 13 artificial hills, including the Hiraiho viewpoint, with about 1,000 hand-pruned pines. A curved wooden footbridge with a low railing crosses one pond, and the north garden contains the former duck-hunting moat.
The site began taking shape in the early 17th century on the orders of a local feudal lord, who had the area transformed into a private garden. Later rulers added new sections and refined the design over more than a century.
The name translates roughly to "Garden of Chestnut Grove", though today ancient pines dominate the view. Guests may stop at several teahouses and gaze across still water surfaces with islands and stone lanterns.
The garden has several gates, including the East Gate near the parking area and the Kitaguchi entrance close to Ritsurin-Kōen-Kitaguchi Station on the JR Kōtoku Line; the Kotoden Ritsurin-Kōen Station and bus stops are also nearby. Paths circle the connected ponds and climb the artificial hills, so allow a few hours to walk the full circuit.
The pines are pruned using traditional techniques where gardeners guide branches with ropes and shape them over decades. Some of the trees bear names that describe their form or position in the landscape.
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