Right across the street from Kaga Castle, originally laid out for the castle owner's pleasure. God Bless the tax-payer. The travel guides warn you that the place is such a tourist attraction, you will be pestered by busloads with guides explaining the beauty - through megaphones. They add you must go in the early morning; otherwise, try Gyokusen-en just around the corner.

We were lucky enough to be there on a relatively quiet day. It was still crowded - for us, not to Japanese standards - but at least it was not noisy. (I cleverly removed many passers-by, to avoid the words took out.)

As regards the much-touted deeper Zen meanings and mystical interpretations of a garden landscape like this, I have to say I take this with a dose of skepticism. Having five different bridges over a stretch of water at a distance between 'em of like five meters, each with their own mythical symbolism, makes me doubt the real Inner Beauty of it all. In fact, it turns me into an heretic and reminds me of garden gnomes. Which is a pity. (But I must confess I cheated: these two particular bridges are in another park.)

Kaga Castle


Kanazawa City




more gardens:
Shinjuku - Fukushima



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