A Walk In The Yoshekien Garden in Nara, Japan

Day 5 in Nara: Deer Park - Todaiji Temple in Nara - YOSHIKIEN GARDEN - Kofukuji Temple - Naramachi street

Standing in the shadows of the more famous Ishien garden, Yoshekien garden is a quiet, tranquil place located just 10 minutes away from either the Todai-ji temple and the Kofuku-ji temple (next diary entry). The biggest advantage of this garden over Ishien is that it is absolutely free for the tourists which serves as a boon for the visitors touring the country.

Yoshekien Garden

Formerly serving as the dwelling of priests from the Kofuku-ji temple, the garden went under private possession in the Meiji Era before being taken over by the Nara Prefectural Government in 1918. After construction of buildings and other structures, the Garden finally opened its gates to the general people in 1989. The Garden comprises three areas namely the Pond Garden, the Moss Garden, and the Tea-ceremonial Flower Garden, each sequentially unlocking the gates to the other.

So, come along...

Entrance

Let's walk the paths that weave through beautiful vistas and soothing landscapes,

The pathways inside the garden

Let's stand by the tranquil pond,

Pond Garden

And admire the beauty that the lovely flowers behold...

Moss Garden

Or, let us take a seat in the tea house and drink in the wisdom...

Tea house

Nature beckons us sometimes...

Moss Garden

To walk on it's ways... and understand the ways of life and living.

Once the abode of temple priests, a leisurely walk in the garden gave us the feeling that the place has retained it’s pious vibrations of yore...

Flourishing with a quiet pond that reveal the splendors of life, stony paths that lead from one step to another, elegant flowers that bloom bright and joyful or the hushed panoramas that echo the pleasing sound of tranquility, a walk in the Yoshekien garden was all about pleasant reflections,

About reflections that juxtapose the outsides and the insides,

And, about reflections... that heal the mind, body and the soul.

Previous Posts from the Japan Trip -

1. Planning for Japan: Visa, Flight Bookings, Hotel Reservations, etc.

2. Sunrise pictures from the flight to Japan

3. Entire Day 1 of Japan (includes Review of Hotel Villa Fontaine Roppongi, Tokyo, Expedia Japan Office Meet: An Afternoon to Remember)

4. Entire Day 2 of Japan (includes SensoJi temple: Asakusa - Tokyo, Nakamise Dori Shopping Arcade in Tokyo, Sumida River Cruise, Tokyo, A Stroll in the Hibiya Gardens, Imperial Palace and East Gardens, The Tokyo Tower, Japan)

5. Entire Day 3 of Japan (includes Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo, ISKCON Temple, Funabori in Tokyo, Epson Aquarium, Shinagawa in Tokyo

6. Entire Day 4 of Japan - Nara (includes Riding the Shinkansen: My ticket to Kyoto, Hello Nara (Planning and Welcome), Driving through Nara: An Introduction, Horyu-ji Temple, Tea Ceremony in Jiko-in Zen Temple)
7. Messengers of God: Deer in Nara Park

8. The Great Buddha at Todai-ji Temple in Nara