Inspiration, the most amazing Japanese gardens

Japanese gardens are rightly admired all over the world. There are few gardeners who would not like to adapt one to their own garden. Every year, garden designers from around the world compete to produce the best result or the latest novelty, which Asian masters already knew long ago. So come with us on a tour of beautiful and majestic gardens that will give you not only inspiration but also energy.

Kenroku-en

We will start with a garden that is perhaps the most beautiful of all. It is in the city of Kanazawa and includes a whole range of ponds, streams, hills, groves and flower gardens. We must not forget its stylish pavilions and teahouses either, one of which was built as early as 1774. It is definitely worth a visit. You can visit it all year round, and it offers more than 8,000 trees and 183 plant species. Absolutely everyone loves it here. An interesting fact is that it has the oldest fountain in Japan, which works by natural water pressure.

Adachi Museum of Art

This remarkable museum opened in Yasugi in 1970. Here you will find a collection of nihonga paintings, as well as works by Yokoyama Taikan. However, we must not forget its famous and beautiful garden, which also attracts visitors. The six gardens are so carefully maintained that they look almost surreal.

Hakone Museum

And here is another museum, this time in the form of moss. Yes, really. It is perhaps the most favourable environment in all of Japan for moss to thrive. This is because the local climate, shaped by the nearby mountains, suits it perfectly. You will find 130 species here, and believe us, you will not tire of looking at them. You can have tea in the popular Shinwatei teahouse. In the museum you will also find paintings by Okada Mokichi and works from the Jomon period.

Katsura

This is the Katsura Imperial Villa, surrounded by gardens and farm buildings. The gardens are generally regarded as masterpieces, and its buildings are among the best that Japanese architecture has to offer. In the garden you will find plenty of paths leading to interesting spots with all kinds of secluded corners. It has 4 tea pavilions. The name “mountain path” may ring a bell, as this is where you will find a place full of cherry blossom trees. That alone is reason enough to come here.

Kōraku-en

The Kōraku-en garden is in Okayama Prefecture on the Japanese island of Honshu. It was founded as early as 1687, and Ikeda Tsunamasa completed it 15 years later. It was opened to the public somewhat later. Today you can admire an area of 13 hectares. And what is the main landmark here? Okayama Castle can be regarded as the landmark, namely Okayama Castle, which is painted red. Unfortunately, you will only see a carefully reconstructed replica, as Okayama Castle was destroyed during the Second World War. Even so, it is a beautiful place.

Daitoku-ji

It is located in northern Kyoto, where you will find a magnificent Buddhist complex. But note that only four temples are open to the public. They are surrounded by gardens that are a popular visitor attraction. What is more, if you are interested in Zen gardens, this is the place for you.

Kairaku-en

The Kairaku-en garden is in the Japanese city of Mito. It was founded in 1841 and is at its most beautiful at the turn of February and March, when the plum trees start to blossom. The garden then fills with lovely shades of white, pink and red flowers. It is ideal for a picnic.

Japanese gardens in the Czech Republic

If you do not fancy a trip to beautiful Japan, you will also find a wide choice of Japanese gardens here at home. And where?

Japanese Garden at Lešná Zoo, “Mu Shin”

Do you know what Mu Shin means? Without thought, because the garden was created without any plans at all. The garden has only 3 pine trees, but the most interesting is a pine with one outstretched branch. This is called the welcoming branch. Apart from the pine and the stones, you will surely be captivated by the little bridges and pagodas, the typical Buddhist tower structures. Together with the zoo, this garden is well worth a visit.

Japan according to a countess

Do you like romantic stories? Here is one. In 1895, Mitsuko Aoyama lived in Poběžovice. You guessed right, she came from Japan and married Count Heinrich Coudenhove-Kalergi in Bohemia. She gave up her faith and converted to Christianity. He, in turn, had to give up his diplomatic career because of the marriage. They had a family estate in Poběžovice, which they put together with their own hands. You can still find the garden there today, it is called the Garden of Peace and is meant to symbolise peace. You can enter the garden freely. As an interesting fact, the countess did not have an easy life, yet a very beautiful comic book was created about her called Lady Mitsuko.  

Japanese garden in the Vysočina Region

Right at the entrance to the Japanese garden in Sněžné, a welcoming Japanese lantern greets you. Here you will find deliberately uneven paths. And why is that? Because goodness can also walk along winding paths. It is no wonder, then, that the bridges over the ponds and streams are arched too, and that you must not be able to see the whole garden from any single spot, because every view should surprise you and reveal something new.

“Explaining is a Western disease,” wrote the popular French writer Muriel Barbery in her book Countless Stars. Spending time in Japanese gardens is also the best gift for a gardener. Such a place is calm, quiet and suitable for meditation against stress, so why not make the most of it?