Japan, Nara Park Japanese Garden “Yoshikien”

June 7, 2024 63 Views

Yoshikien is a Japanese garden located within Nara Park. In contrast to the adjacent “Isuien Garden,” which requires an entrance fee, Yoshikien is free to enter, making it a more accessible option.

During this trip, I had initially planned to explore Isuien Garden as well, but unfortunately, the garden wasn’t open at that time. Instead, I had the opportunity to stroll through the free garden, Yoshikien, located right next to it.

“Nara Park’s Free Japanese Garden, Yoshikien”

Yoshikien is a small Japanese-style garden located next to Isuien. It originated during the Edo period as part of a temple and was later transformed into the present buildings and garden during the Meiji era by private ownership. In 1984, it came under Nara Prefecture ownership and has been freely open to the public since then. It features a pond garden integrated with the building, a moss garden with a tea house, and a garden with tea flowers.

“The Pond Garden Visible Immediately upon Entry”

The highlight of Yoshikien can be experienced right after entering. Upon opening the gate, a small booth provides directions, and taking the path to the right leads directly to the “Pond Garden.” Personally, this area left the most lasting impression in Yoshikien.

While the moss garden and the tea flower garden offered scenes that could be found in other gardens, the experience in the Pond Garden was exceptional. Despite not having particularly unique features, the atmosphere during the stroll created a feeling of detachment from the outside world, making it a great place for contemplation.

If you are on a leisurely trip and have time to take a stroll, Yoshikien is a good place to visit, especially if you only explore the Pond Garden before moving quickly to the next location.

“An Entrance that Doesn’t Seem Like an Entrance”

The entrance doesn’t appear conventional, making it initially challenging to determine if the door is open or closed. Fortunately, when I opened the door, it was accessible. For first-time visitors, it might be ambiguous whether the door is open or closed, so checking in advance is recommended.

“Nara, Nara Park, Yoshikien”