Ritsurin Garden: A Walking Edo Picture Scroll

[Ritsurin Garden | A Walking Edo Picture Scroll]

In Takamatsu, Shikoku, lies a garden that feels like a Ukiyo-e painting come alive: Ritsurin Garden. Hailed as "Japan's most beautiful strolling daimyo garden," it took over a century to cultivate and still retains the elegance and tranquility of the Edo period.

🌿 One Scene, One World
The garden is organized around six ponds and thirteen rockeries, connected by winding paths that allow visitors to experience a changing landscape with each turn, creating a new scene at every turn. The distant view of Shiyun Mountain serves as a backdrop, adding layers of depth to the garden's scenery, seemingly condensing nature into a unique universe.

⛩️ Cultural Atmosphere
The garden boasts a teahouse, "Jugetsu-tei," whose name means "reaching out to hold the moon." Enjoying tea here, the interplay of the pond, pine shadows, and light and shadow outside the window creates a captivating experience.

🍁 The Changing Seasons
• Spring: Cherry blossoms reflect in the pond, petals drifting in the breeze.
• Summer: Lush pines shade the landscape, lotus flowers float lightly on the water's surface.
• Autumn: Crimson leaves blanket the hillsides, complementing the reflections in the lake.
• Winter: Snow-covered pines create a tranquil scene reminiscent of a painting.

✨ Traveler's Tips
• The park is vast, so allow at least two hours to explore it leisurely.
• It's recommended to visit early in the morning or evening when there are fewer people and the light is better.
• If you have time, enjoy a Japanese tea ceremony at Kikugetsu-tei.

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📌 Traveler's Notes
• Getting there: Approximately 10 minutes by bus from Takamatsu Station.
• Admission: Approximately 410 yen (adults).
• Highlights: Lake Nanhu scenery and tea at Kikugetsu-tei.

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🔖 Tags
#Ritsurin Park #Takamatsu Travel #Japanese Garden #Shikoku Secrets #Edo Fuga