Showing posts with label korakuen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label korakuen. Show all posts

Friday, December 3, 2010

Korakuen

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Korakuen garden in Okayama City is ranked one of the top 3 gardens in Japan.

With its large lawns it is more like a park than a usual Japanese garden.

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Earlier I posted on some of the details in the garden as well as the Lotus blossoming.

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In the 133,000 square meters of garden are 6 shrines, tea houses, an archery range, several ponds, various groves, bridges, waterfalls, a greehouse with cactii, and a crane aviary.

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The garden was completed in 1700 for the pleasure of the local Daimyo whose castle overlooks the garden.

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The garden is open from 8 to 5 and entrance is 350yen. There are two entrances, one from the castle, and one from the south.

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Saturday, August 7, 2010

A detailed view of Korakuen

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Korakuen in Okayama City is one of the three top ranked gardens in Japan.

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Before posting some shots of the garden, I thought I would show some of the details that attracted my eye. If you like koi, more posts here.

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I also posted some shots of lotus blossoms from Korakuen earlier.

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I posted a sequence of red umbrellas at Matsuo shrine earlier.

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Saturday, July 17, 2010

Lotus Blossom Viewing

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Just got back from a visit to the Korakuen, one of the three top gardens in Japan. Located below Okayama castle in Okayama City, the lotus blossoms were on display for the hordes of photographers.

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The lotus blossom is one of the most recognised Buddhist symbols and can be found in much Buddhist art. The pink blossoms represent the historical Buddha.

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Lotus root is edible and can be found in Japanese cooking. Known as Renkon, it is good in soup or as tempura.

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There was a second pond with white blossoms. In Buddhist symbolism they represent purity.

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I find the leaves at least as interesting as the flowers.