In the Kansai region, with Kyoto as the ancient capital at its heart, there are numerous famous gardens that breathe history and culture.
In recent years, along with the increase in the number of inbound tourists visiting Japan, there has also been a continuous rise in inbound tourists heading to the Kansai region. Many people now cite Japanese gardens as their purpose for tourism. Currently, Japanese gardens are experiencing a global boom, captivating the hearts of many with their serenity and beauty. Both domestically and internationally, the number of visitors to Japanese gardens is on the rise, and Japanese garden-style landscaping has become a trend even in private residences overseas.
The allure of Japanese gardens that captivates many people is not just a gathering place of plants but an artistic creation that skillfully incorporates natural landscapes and expresses Japan’s sense of beauty. Traditional techniques such as dry landscape gardens (Karesansui) and natural scenery used as the background for the landscaping of a garden (Shakkei) create deep worlds within limited spaces, stimulating the imagination of viewers. In recent years, amidst global attention on Japanese culture like washoku (Japanese cuisine) and anime, interest in Japanese gardens has also been growing annually.
These gardens each hold deep mysteries and stories. This time, we aim to unravel the mysteries of representative famous gardens in the Kansai region in detail and explore their charms.
The Mystery of Famous Gardens in the Kansai region①: What is the Mystery of the Stone Garden at Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto?
Ryoanji Temple was established in the second year of the Hōtoku era (1450). It is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under “Cultural Assets of Ancient Kyoto.” Designated as a national historic site and special place of scenic beauty, the Hojo Garden, also known as “Ryoanji’s Stone Garden,” is a representative dry landscape garden in Japan. However, despite its beauty, there are several mysteries surrounding the stone garden. Firstly, the author of the stone garden and the time of its creation are still unknown.
The stone garden is a rectangular area measuring 25 meters by 10 meters. Within this area, 15 stones of different sizes are arranged into five groups: five stones from the east, followed by two, three, two, and three stones. These 15 stones of varying sizes are surrounded by white gravel, and the only vegetation in the garden is moss around the stones.
The stone garden is intended to be viewed from the veranda, but depending on the angle of observation, the number of stones may appear as either 14 or 16. This is believed to be due to the clever landscaping by the creator, who utilized visual illusions.
There are various interpretations regarding the intention of the stone garden. While dry landscape gardens are said to represent Zen philosophy, the specific meaning behind the stone garden is not clearly defined.
These mysteries contribute to the allure of the stone garden. Visitors can enjoy the garden with their own interpretations.
At Ryoanji Temple, there are “mystery-solving tours” held to unravel the mysteries of the stone garden. During these tours, participants can learn about the secrets hidden in the stone garden and receive hints to solve the puzzles.
The Mystery of Famous Gardens in the Kansai region②:What is the Mystery of the Old Ekishukan Garden with Rows of Giant Stones in Awaji Island?
Located on the central east coast of Awaji Island, Sumoto thrived as the home base of Sumoto Castle during the Edo period. Even today, it remains a beautiful place with a grid-like town layout that was established during the castle town era. Nestled quietly at the foot of Magatayama in Sumoto is the “Former Ekishukan Garden,” created as the private garden of the Inada family, the head samurai of the Tokushima Domain who served as the castle lord during the early Edo period.
At first glance, it appears to be a typical pond strolling garden, but it harbors several mysteries that beg the question, “What is this?” The most significant mystery of the garden is undoubtedly the grouping of massive rocks placed within it. The stones used for the mountain-side embankment stand at a towering 4 meters in height and 5.8 meters in width, making them one of Japan’s largest rocks and exuding an overwhelming presence. Additionally, the garden’s western side features a 4-meter-tall stone lantern, adding to the astonishment. While these giant stones were strategically placed to enhance the garden’s aesthetics and create a harmonious landscape, their sheer size remains astounding.
Why was such a garden with massive stones created?
Tracing Sumoto’s history reveals that the city has long been known for producing high-quality stones since ancient times. During the Edo period, Sumoto’s stone was referred to as “Awaji Stone” and was used for stone walls in structures such as Osaka Castle and Himeji Castle. Furthermore, from the Meiji period onward, these stones became widely utilized for tombstones and construction materials.
The Former Ekishukan Garden was crafted by repurposing the site of a stone quarry that supplied the stone for developing Sumoto’s castle town. Within the garden, you can still see “arrow holes,” which are marks left by wedges used to extract stones.
Additionally, the garden cleverly utilizes the slopes of Magatayama, where exposed bedrocks are utilized to create artificial hills, and a garden pond is established to channel water flowing from the mountain. At the forefront are the large and small waterfalls, with a guardian stone placed atop the hill. All these stone arrangements extensively use natural rocks from the quarry, blending them with artificially shaped stones to create a unique garden landscape that authentically replicates nature’s grandeur.
The Former Ekishukan Garden is designed as a “pond strolling garden,” allowing visitors to wander around the garden pond and enjoy views of the garden from pathways that traverse through giant stones.
