- Address: 1-5 Korakuen, Kita Ward, Okayama, Okayama Prefecture 703-8257, Japan
- Phone: +81 86-272-1148
- Official website: okayama-korakuen.jp
- Opening hours: 07: 30-18: 00
- Ticket price: $ 3
Japan is a country with a peculiar culture. Japanese philosophy is based on feelings and intuition, which is different from European rationalism. This is reflected in the construction of parks . In this issue, the Japanese rely on the system "Shinto", which translates as "The Way of the Gods." The space of the park should give pleasure and solitude, the opportunity to contemplate the beauty of nature.
Three parks in Japan are most close to the ideal:
- Koraku-en in Okayama ;
- Kenroku-en in Kanazawa ;
- Kairaku-en in Mito .
Description
Park Koraku-en (or Kyuraku-en) is located in the center of Kanazawa and is one of the symbols of the city. It is open all year round and is beautiful at any time. This is a favorite vacation spot for both locals and visitors. In the park grows about 9000 trees and 200 plant species, which give it a different appearance depending on the season.
In the spring, apricots and cherries blossom in the park, it looks fresh, smart, awakening from sleep. In the summer, numerous azaleas bloom and the oldest fountain in Japan beats. Visitors gather near him to refresh themselves.
In autumn the park is very picturesque. The foliage is painted in all colors of the rainbow. In winter, pine covered with snow comes to the fore.
Historical background
Initially, Koraku-en was the garden of Kanazawa Castle . The garden was created in the XVII century and opened to visitors in 1875. Prior to this, for almost two hundred years the garden was privately owned and rarely opened to the public. Twice Koraku-en was practically destroyed: during the floods in 1934 and during the bombardment in 1945. Thanks to the preserved paintings, plans and documents, it was completely restored.
Features of the park
The composition of the garden has features characteristic of untouched nature, that is, there is a sense of freedom and ease. The creator of the park sought not to subordinate natural nature, but to show the inner meaning of the life of the surrounding world. The park can be described most correctly as a promenade. Its area is more than 13 hectares.
Almost 2 hectares of them occupy a lawn. The park is designed so that a strolling visitor at each turn reveals a new panorama: this is either a pond or a stream, or lawns, or a tea pavilion. It is the unexpected nature of these species that makes Koraku-en so extraordinary and wishing to return here again and again.
It's amazing that there are rice fields and tea bushes in the walking park. Just the owner's family of the park wanted to better understand the life of ordinary people, using for this traditional Japanese plants. Another surprise is a couple of cranes, rare birds. Sometimes they let them take a walk. They even breed in captivity.
There are a lot of bright beautiful fish in the ponds. The water is transparent. You can stand on the bridge. To look at the water, at the fish, to think. Everything is organized so that people are distracted from heavy thoughts, relaxed. The design uses stones, water, sand. The stone represents a mountain, a pond is a lake, sand is an ocean, and the park itself is a world in miniature.
The stones form the "skeleton" of the park. Everything else is located around them. Stones are naturally located in ponds, they paved paths, stairs. Their surface is smooth, they look natural. On the paths, islets, then there, then there are stone lanterns. In the evening they are included, and they give the park even greater charm.
There are many reservoirs in Koraku-en. The sound of running water reminds of the transience of time. Brooks and ponds are crossed by bridges. Some of them are wooden, and some are stone, but in any case they naturally fit into the landscape. Peace is what the visitors of the park feel.
How to get there?
By train: along the line Toei O-edo, Iidabashi Sta. or on the line JR Sobu Line Iidabashi Sta. In Okayama there is an airport 20 km from the city. From Tokyo , Kyoto , Osaka , Nagoya and Nagasaki , there are buses going to Okayama.