Yokokan Teien: A Splendid Secret Garden
The Three Great Gardens of Japan get the most press, however, there are other splendid gardens, such as Yokokan Teien. Its charm won it third place in the Shiosai Best Gardens in Japan rankings from 2008 to 2010, and it's been part of the Top 10 crowd ever since.
By Jinichi Segawa
Tea Time in the Garden
The tea house (ochaya) is an example of Sukiya-zukuri architecture, a style developed during the Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573-1600) and characterized by the simplicity and austerity of natural materials.Garden visitors are allowed to enter the ochaya free of charge, and it can be rented as a venue for tea ceremonies.
The tea house is constructed with rooms called ma. This is the Comb-Shaped Room (Kushigata-no-Ma), and is a great place to stop and relax. When the weather is good, a refreshing breeze often blows through here.
The view of the garden from the tea house is so serene it'll make you forget about the passage of time.
Serenity in the Details
These are small stones spread around on the earthen veranda facing the pond. Attention to detail and sensory delights in the smallest of places is one of the most unique and charming aspects of Japanese gardens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7o6CDY4yxQ&feature=youtu.be
Getting There
Yokokan Teien is located in the center of Fukui City and is roughly 15 minutes on foot from JR Fukui Station. The garden is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (from November 6 through the end of February, the garden closes at 5 p.m.) Be sure to see the tea house when you stroll the garden circuit!
All About's photography guide is a professional photographer who also offers seminars, with tips on techniques from scenery to product shots all over Japan. He studied at the University of Wisconsin and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. His work in All About Japan focuses on Japanese traditional and pop culture, as well as photography.
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