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| Area Guide |
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| Japanese Garden |
| Introduction |
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| The Showa Kinen Park which
is known to many people as a large refreshing space surrounded by verdure is located
in the outer suburbs of Tokyo. A traditional Japanese garden was opened on April
1997 in a corner of this specious open-air area. If you stand beside the lake and look around the garden,you can enjoy a beautiful panorama. The delicacy of traditional Japanese landscape takes account of details as small as a single flower plant or small stone. "kanfu-tei" a charming tea house built in the "Sukiya" style is in perfect harmony with the garden. You can enjoy the seasonal diversity of the garden with its clear lake and brooks throughout the year. We hope the garden will be enjoyed for long into the future by many people as a unique and familiar place where they can enjoy the beauty of nature and traditional cultural activities. |
| Traditional Skills Find Harmony with Nature |
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| (Overview) This garden incorporates basic principles in the construction of a park, taking advantage of traditional landscaping arts while bringing together a range of modern technologies. It was constructed by condensing typical elements of Japan's natural landscape within a limited area for the appreciation of visitors. The garden features a bright,spacious environment that communicates the characteristic of each season,while avoiding symbolical and miniature landscaping techniques. "Knfu-tei" is located on the west side of the lake and "Seichi-ken" stands on the south side at the center of the garden. You can enjoy an authentic tea ceremony in "kanfu-tei"- a single- storied,wooden "Sukiya"-style building with a copper clad roof. The view from "Kanfu-tei" makes you feel as if you are deep in the mountains,with a dark green forest to the left and a small brook flowing from the mountains into the lake. The peaceful atmosphere extends to your left where a large space is dominated by a stately pine beside the lake. You can enjoy beautiful views,which change with the light throughout the day,from the walkways around the gardens lake. |
| Preserving the Nature Skyline |
| (Description
of garden) This large garden offers some breathtaking views. Many of the famous gardens in the center of Tokyo are surrounded by high-rise buildings,leaving only a very limited view of sky. However,in this park nothing obstructs the natural skyline but trees,and visitors can experience the beauty of the garden under an open sky. |
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To
the north,an artificial hill,30 meters above the rest of park,has been constructed.
It is covered with pines,White oak,and other trees. An exceptional example of
landscaping has been achieved with the hill as a backdrop. At the boundary of
the garden,evergreens such as chinquapin and thick-stemmed bamboo screen an iron
tower and buildings located around the park to create a serene,mini-cosmos,which
has a unique atmosphere that takes us out if our daily lives. Other features of the garden are colorful trees planted around the garden. While many historical Japanese gardens tend to produce a somewhat moody atmosphere by planting trees such as oaks and chinquapins,this garden features a wide range of deciduous broad-leaf trees such as Japanese maple and white oak to produce the lighter ambience of a Musashino copse. |
| Kanfu-tei |
| Sukiya-style
Wooden Structure Carries on a Long Tradition The panorama of the lake is ideally appreciated from "kanfu-tei" located to the west of the lake. The structure contains a large tea room,with hearth,area for the standing-style tea ceremony,washing area,and an auxiliary facility. Construction of the house features remarkable "Sukiya" skills,including the frequent use of the best available wooden materials such as Japanese cypress,as well as special techniques such as roofing with cypress bark and special joints at pillars and beams. |
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| Introduction | Overview | Description of the garden | Kanfu-tei |
Copyright(C) 1999-2008 Showa Kinen Park