Suizen-ji Jōju-en

Coordinates: 32°47′28″N 130°44′05″E / 32.791092°N 130.734594°E / 32.791092; 130.734594
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Suizen-ji Jōju-en
水前寺成趣園
Suizen-ji Jōju-en Map
Map
TypeJapanese garden
LocationKumamoto Prefecture, Japan
Coordinates32°47′28″N 130°44′05″E / 32.791092°N 130.734594°E / 32.791092; 130.734594
Created1636

Suizen-ji Jōju-en (水前寺成趣園) is a tsukiyama[note 1] Japanese garden located within Suizen-ji Park (水前寺公園, Suizen-ji Kōen) in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. The main tsukiyama is a representation of Mount Fuji. Lord Hosokawa Tadatoshi began construction of the garden in 1636 as a tea retreat. The park was named after a no-longer-extant Buddhist temple called Suizen-ji, and now hosts the Izumi Shrine, where members of the Hosokawa family are enshrined, and a Nōgaku-dō, a Noh theater. Lord Hosokawa selected this site because of its spring-fed pond, the clean water of which was excellent for tea.[1] The thatched Kokin-Denju-no-Ma teahouse was originally in Kyoto's Imperial Palace, but was moved here in 1912.

The garden has been declared by the national government a historic site of scenic beauty.

Suizenji Park[edit]

Suizenji Kōen is an interesting and popular venue, featuring miniature landscapes, a temple, and small lakes containing large koi. It is a short tram ride from the city. Nearby, there are many souvenir and snack shops.

Gallery[edit]

The pond 26. Oct. 1978
The pond 10. Nov. 1978

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Tsukiyama gardens are Japanese gardens featuring an artificial mountain (a tsukiyama).

References[edit]

  • Explore Japan, Suizenji Garden accessed on August 31, 2009
  • Mansfield, Stephen (2011). Japan's Master Gardens - Lessons in Space and Environment (Hardback). Tokyo, Rutland, Singapore: Tuttle. ISBN 978-4-8053-1128-8.
  1. ^ "Pylant, Don D. Japanese Gardening Organization - Suizenji Park". Botanysaurus. 11 October 2001. Archived from the original on 3 September 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2008.