Man'yō Botanical Garden, Botanical garden near Kasuga-taisha shrine, Nara, Japan.
The Man'yō Botanical Garden is a botanical garden near the Kasuga-taisha shrine in Nara that displays about 300 plant species mentioned in classical Japanese poetry. The grounds feature pathways through different planting areas, including a notable wisteria grove with hundreds of flowering shrubs.
The garden was established in 1932 and focuses on preserving plants mentioned in the Man'yoshu, a poetry collection from the 8th century. The project connects modern botanical interests with honoring classical literary works.
The garden draws its name from the Man'yoshu, one of Japan's oldest poetry collections, and displays plants mentioned throughout these ancient verses. Visitors can experience how closely nature and poetry were intertwined in classical Japanese culture.
The garden is located near the Kasuga shrine and easily reached on foot, with plenty of pathways for walking and exploring. One to two hours is enough time to comfortably visit all areas.
The wisteria grove blooms especially abundantly in May and draws many visitors wanting to photograph the hanging purple flower clusters during this peak season. Near the entrance stands the historic Ninai-jaya teahouse where visitors can enjoy traditional tea.
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