Japan's Historical Places Part 4

KAIRAKUEN

Historic Garden Famous for 100 Kinds of Ume (Japanese Apricot) Trees  

 

Kairakuen in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, is a huge garden covering 127,000-square meter (31.4-acre) that was created by a feudal lord who reigned over this area in the Edo period (1603-1868). The garden is characterized by its exquisite design that makes great use of surrounding natural features; for example, neighboring Lake Senba is used as a pond, which is a key feature of traditional gardens. Kairakuen is considered to be one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan, along with Kenrokuen in Ishikawa Prefecture and Korakuen in Okayama Prefecture.  
The name "Kairakuen" means "a garden to enjoy with people." The 9th lord Nariaki Tokugawa who completed the garden not only used it for himself, but also opened it to the public, a pioneering idea that lead to the development of parks. Historical records show that people came here in spare moments from work to play music, sing, have tea ceremonies, and fish in Lake Senba while enjoying the beautiful landscape.  
Kairakuen is also famous for its ume (Japanese apricot) flowers; about 3,000 trees of over 100 species of ume trees cover half of the site. Since the flowering season varies from early January to late March, flowers are in bloom throughout the garden during these three months. It is said that Nariaki ordered the many ume trees to be planted because after people had enjoyed the flowers, the fruits could be preserved as food in case of emergency. (Source : http://web-japan.org/atlas/historical/histr_fr.html)

KAMAKURA

Ancient City Full of Historical Interest and Flowers  

Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is where the first military regime of Japan was formed, replacing the previous reign by the imperial court and aristocracy. This regime, called Kamakura Bakufu, was established by Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147-99) in 1192. Yoritomo moved Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, a leading Shinto shrine in the area, into the center of the city and modeled the city after Kyoto, comparing the shrine to the Imperial Palace in the center of Kyoto. The road called "Wakamiya Ooji" which runs directly from the shrine to the coast was built during this early period of the city's construction and is still the city's main street today.  
In the 18th century, Kamakura had already become a popular tourist spot. The city was fairly close to Edo (present-day Tokyo), which was already a big city at that time, and many citizens of Edo visited Kamakura to worship at the temples and shrines or to visit the historic sites.  
  
Kamakura City today has the quiet, civilized atmosphere of an ancient city. The city is scattered with many temples and shrines, among which are to be found temples built by men of power in the 13th century when the city flourished as the political center of the nation. Many temples and shrines are also famous for their seasonal flowers, the best-known of which are the cherry blossoms of Kenchoji Temple, narcissi and ume (Japanese apricot) flowers of Zuisenji Temple, and hydrangeas in Meigetsuin Temple. Another of the major attractions of Kamakura is the bronze Great Buddha of Kotokuin Temple, which is a National Treasure. This huge statue standing 11.3 meters (37.1 feet) high, made also in the 13th century, sits in the open air and is regarded as a symbol of Kamakura. (Source : http://web-japan.org/atlas/historical/histr_fr.html)