One of Japan's three most famous gardens: Okayama Korakuen

Okayama Korakuen, one of the three most famous gardens in Japan, was built in the 17th century as Japan's earliest lawn garden. It took 14 years to complete. As one of the symbols of Japanese samurai power, it is known as one of the three most famous gardens in Japan along with Kenrokuen in Kanazawa City and Kairakuen in Mito City. The 13-hectare grounds are centered around the Enyo-tei, a living room, and feature a Noh stage, ponds, mountains, plum groves, tea fields, and other areas. This is a rare example of an open, wide lawn style found in Japanese gardens. You can climb up "Weixin Mountain" to get a bird's eye view of the park, or stroll along the surrounding pond paths to enjoy the ever-changing scenery of the strolling garden. Korakuen considers Okayama Castle outside the garden as part of the garden landscape, giving the entire garden design a sense of depth. In addition to offering a panoramic view of the beautiful scenery within the garden, the "Enyo-tei" located next to the main gate is also worth exploring, with the "borrowed scenery" gardening technique using Okayama Castle and the surrounding mountains outside the garden as the background. The "Ryuten" located in the center of the park has water flowing under the building, so you can enjoy the changes in the water flow. It is cool in the summer and has become an excellent place for successive feudal lords to meditate. There are red-crowned cranes raised in the park, but I didn't see any during my two visits. It may be seasonal. In addition, you can enjoy flowers of different seasons, including a grove of more than 100 plum trees, cherry blossoms, azaleas, irises, and lotuses in spring. The red leaves in autumn are also charming. In summer and autumn, the "Fantasy Garden" is held for a limited time. Not only is the opening time extended to the night, but the park is also decorated with lights such as candles, allowing visitors to enjoy a fantasy space different from the daytime, which is very popular. #GreenTourism #JapanTravel #Garden #Garden #JapanGoodPlaces #JapanTravelStrategy #JapanPhotography