[Shofuen Garden | Fukuoka's secluded dry landscape garden]

[Shofuen Garden | Fukuoka's Quiet Karesansui]

Tucked away in Fukuoka City's Minami Ward, Shofuen Garden is a discreet yet deeply Zen-inspired Japanese garden. Originally the villa of tea master Takatori Eyoshi, it was later opened as a public garden. The garden's core is a dry landscape, skillfully utilizing white sand, moss, and stone formations to create the imagery of mountains and streams.

🌿 Garden Beauty
White sand spreads like water, moss forms islands, and stones stand like mountains. Though small, the garden is exquisitely crafted like a miniature world. Strolling the quiet paths, surrounded only by the sounds of wind and birdsong, one's mind becomes tranquil.

🍵 Tea Room Experience
The garden still retains a tea room where visitors can enjoy a quiet cup of tea, admiring the changing seasons through sliding paper doors: spring cherry blossoms falling, summer trees shaded by cool trees, autumn maples reflecting light, and winter snows blanketing the ground. Such moments allow one to experience the Japanese elegance of "once in a lifetime."

✨ A Mindful Moment
The charm of Shofuen Garden lies not in its grandeur, but in its ability to calm the mind through minimalist spaces. True to its name, "Shofu," the gentle sound of wind through the pine trees is the most moving natural music.

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📌 Traveler's Notes
• Getting There: From central Fukuoka, take the subway or bus to Beppu Station, then walk for about 10 minutes.
• Experience: Sit quietly and admire the garden, or participate in a tea ceremony.
• Best Season: All year round, especially recommended during the autumn maple season and the early winter snowfall.
• Tip: To avoid crowds, visit early in the morning or evening for the most tranquil and peaceful time.

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🔖 Tags
#Shofuen #FukuokaGarden #karesansui #JapaneseTeahouse #ZenJourney #QuietTime #GardenAesthetics #Ichigoichie

Would you like me to create a "Kyoto x Fukuoka Garden Comparison" comparing Shofuen with the Murinan and Mosedera gardens you mentioned earlier?