Japanese Gardens

How wonderful knowing I walked these paths and soaked in these visions.

I don't think there was a day on our trip we didn't make time to admire some aspect of a Japanese garden in one form or another: zen gardens, strolling gardens, moss gardens, pond gardens, borrowed scenery gardens, traditional gardens, formal gardens, tea ceremony gardens, bonsai, national gardens and sites registered for their scenic beauty. 

I could sit in any one of these for hours or days, and yet we had such brief moments. Knowing that each changes almost an infinite number of times in a season: as trees and plants are pruned, as light and shadow play, as different species come into leaf and bloom. 

Now that I am home I will continue to visit these places in memory, but also look for books and films to transport me again and appreciate the details. Kenninji is on that list, as well as Tenruji. Well, they all are! Links below.

TOKYO * Sansoji Temple Denboin * Meiji Jingu Inner Garden (Gyoen) with bonsai  * Imperial Palace East Garden * Shinjuku Chuo Park * Hibiya Park* Ikutokuen Shinji-ike Pond * Chodorigofuchi Park *  Yasakuni Shrine Outer Garden * Shinjuku Gyoen National Gardens *  HAKONE Shinsenko Garden and Teahouse * KYOTO * Higashi Honganjo Temple Garden * Ryoanji Zen Rock Garden * Golden Pavillion and strolling garden * Kenninji Cho-en-tei;  Hojo rock and moss garden; Circle, Triangle Square Garden * Kyoto Gyoen National Garden * Tenryuji Zen Temple, Sogenchi Teien (Sogen Pond Garden), Shoun-kaku and Kan'u-tei teahouses, Hyakka'en (Garden of a Hundred Flowers) * Okochi Sanso Villa and Garden * Sanjusangendo Temple and thousand statues of Kannon and strolling garden * Shosi-en Edo period strolling garden* Maruyama Park * NARA * Yoshikien Garden* Isuin Garden * OSAKA * Nishinomaru Garden Osaka Castle * Kema Sakuranomiya Park *