にわしゅう日和 ～Kyoto's private gardens～
テーマ：“日記”
2012/11/06 17:25
Hello everyone,
this is Jenny, back from Kyoto!
The team of Real Japanese Gardens spent an amazing 3 days in Japan's old capital.
We saw three large Imperial Gardens, numerous small temple gardens, but one garden was especially memorable - a private garden in southern Kyoto, in the Fushimi district near Tofuku-ji. It is a garden built 100 years ago by the Ogawa Jihee. The garden master is the 7th generation from a family with a long gardening tradition.
Before going there, we called Mr. Ohashi, and made an appointment with him. The Ohashi residence is tucked away in the small streets of Fushimi, and the place is pretty hard to find.
An elder gentleman with a deep blue jinbei (甚平 - short jacket and trousers made of cotton or linen) greeted us and showed us inside. We were asked to put on garden slippers, so out shoes don't damage the moss.
After explaining about the origin of the garden, he showed us its main feature - a Suikinkutsu (水琴窟). A Suikinkutsu is a jar that is buried in the earth below a water feature. When the water trickles through the gravel and into the jar, it makes a pleasant, cooling sound.
With a hollow bamboo stick as a hearing aid, you could hear the water dripping really clear, but even without it, you can enjoy the sound of the water. Like a furin (風鈴), it is said to have a cooling effect in Kyoto's hot summers.
You can find other pictures of the garden here, on the Real Japanese Garden website:
http://www.japanesegardens.jp/gardens/secret/000078.php
The garden has quite a lot of stone lanterns for its size, 12 altogether. The owner, the grandfather of the current owner, loved stone lanterns, and although the garden master Ogawa adviced him not to put that many into the small garden, he ignored him.
Up to this day, every year, the tradition of the Ogawa family continues. Twice every year, they come into the garden and prune the shrubs. The family is now in the 12th generation and it was an honor for us to see a private garden, that is part of the Japanese garden history.
Until the next time,
Jenny
this is Jenny, back from Kyoto!
The team of Real Japanese Gardens spent an amazing 3 days in Japan's old capital.
We saw three large Imperial Gardens, numerous small temple gardens, but one garden was especially memorable - a private garden in southern Kyoto, in the Fushimi district near Tofuku-ji. It is a garden built 100 years ago by the Ogawa Jihee. The garden master is the 7th generation from a family with a long gardening tradition.
Before going there, we called Mr. Ohashi, and made an appointment with him. The Ohashi residence is tucked away in the small streets of Fushimi, and the place is pretty hard to find.
An elder gentleman with a deep blue jinbei (甚平 - short jacket and trousers made of cotton or linen) greeted us and showed us inside. We were asked to put on garden slippers, so out shoes don't damage the moss.
After explaining about the origin of the garden, he showed us its main feature - a Suikinkutsu (水琴窟). A Suikinkutsu is a jar that is buried in the earth below a water feature. When the water trickles through the gravel and into the jar, it makes a pleasant, cooling sound.
With a hollow bamboo stick as a hearing aid, you could hear the water dripping really clear, but even without it, you can enjoy the sound of the water. Like a furin (風鈴), it is said to have a cooling effect in Kyoto's hot summers.
You can find other pictures of the garden here, on the Real Japanese Garden website:
http://www.japanesegardens.jp/gardens/secret/000078.php
The garden has quite a lot of stone lanterns for its size, 12 altogether. The owner, the grandfather of the current owner, loved stone lanterns, and although the garden master Ogawa adviced him not to put that many into the small garden, he ignored him.
Up to this day, every year, the tradition of the Ogawa family continues. Twice every year, they come into the garden and prune the shrubs. The family is now in the 12th generation and it was an honor for us to see a private garden, that is part of the Japanese garden history.
Until the next time,
Jenny
RSS
