Yokohama Sankeien Garden, Kanagawa

Yokohama is one of the top sightseeing spots in Japan. Especially noteworthy is “Sankeien Garden” which has a long history and is designated as an important cultural property. The vast site of about 18 hectares changes from season to season, giving it a unique attraction.
“Sankeien Garden” is a pure Japanese garden located in Naka Ward, Yokohama. Originally privately owned, it was open to the public in 1906 by businessman Hara Sankei. Hara Sankei was a man who made good fortune with the silk trade, and had factories in various places, centering on the “Tomioka Silk Mill” which was registered as a World Heritage Site. He is a key figure in discussing the history of Yokohama, and has made great achievements as a great member of the foundation of Yokohama.
Hara Sankei originally used antiques as a hobby, and cast private items to collect tea utensils. As one of them, Hara Sankei is said to have bought Kyoto temples and old houses and transferred it to Sankeien Garden. Therefore, there are many old buildings such as temple architecture, old houses and tea houses from the Muromachi period to the Azuchi Momoyama period. It is now regarded as a historically valuable garden.
There are 17 buildings of Japanese architecture on a vast site of about 18 hectares. Of these, 10 are designated as national designated important cultural property and 3 are designated as city designated tangible cultural property. Above all, the three-storied pagoda of formerly Tomyo-ji Temple, relocated in 1914, is famous as the oldest three-storied pagoda. It was built during the Muromachi period and was designated as an Important Cultural Property in 1931. In addition, look at various Japanese houses such as Rinsohun-kaku used as samurai residences and tea rooms, old Gekkaden, old Tokeiji Buddhist temples and old Tomyoji Temple Buddhist temples and other various Japanese houses such as the traditional Yanohara residences.
Some of the important cultural properties are facilities that we can use. You can feel the atmosphere of the time as it is in a historical building, and you can learn Japanese era more closely. In addition, the expansive garden is a “walking-style” Japanese garden structure so that you can enjoy Japanese tastes such as flowers and ponds. There is a restaurant where you can enjoy matcha green tea and freshly baked dumplings, and you can enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine while enjoying the views of the garden.
Sankeien Garden where you can enjoy historic buildings in the scenery of each season. It is one of the finest gardens in the country where you can get in touch with the good old Japanese traditional culture like an old city while staying in Yokohama. As a port city, it is a spot where you can feel the attraction different from the exotic image of Yokohama.

180,000 square meters of plottage

The Sankeien Garden is a vast Japanese garden of about 180,000 square meters of plottage which the businessman Sankei Hara, who accomplished goods by silk manufacture and raw silk trade, opened in 1906. 17 historical buildings collected in the vast site from Kyoto, Kamakura, etc. are skillfully arranged to inside a garden of rich nature. Ten buildings, such as Rinshun-kaku, the three-storied pagoda of old Tomyo-ji Temple, etc. which exist inside the garden, are designated as the important cultural property. It is the sightseeing spot which is known as famous places, such as a plum, a cherry tree, an azalea, and autumnal leaves, and many tourist visit this garden where you can experience leading Japanese culture in Yokohama.

Historical buildings of the Edo or the Kamakura period

There are many historical buildings of the Edo period or the Kamakura period collected from the whole country in Sankeien Garden. Although it is reconstruction, with an image of those days, the historical building can be seen closely. Besides, those buildings are not merely located. It is the arrangement which was considered taking the landscape. It makes those historical buildings much more attractive.

A tasteful autumnal-leaves scene like an ancient city

At the best time to see of autumnal leaves from the end of November to the middle of December, maple trees, ginkgo trees, etc. turn red beautifully by every place inside a garden. Above all, around Choshu-kaku and Shunsoro of the inner gardens, around Yokobue-an and Rindo-an of the outer garden are especially brilliant. A tasteful autumnal-leaves scene like an ancient city can be enjoyed in Yokohama.

You cannot imagine that here is in Yokohama

Anyway, scenery is splendid. The scenery from the place, where a pond in the center in the garden and a far-off three stories tower are seen at the same time, cannot regard that this place is in the city of Yokohama at all.

“Kano no Yube”

Sankeien adds to the attraction at the spring time. It is because about 300 cherry trees, such as Someiyoshino and Yamazakura, are planted inside the garden. The combination of a historical building and a cherry tree gives such impression which reaches the hearts of the Japanese. Although it is a limited time offer, “Kano no Yube” (to view the cherry tree at night) which enjoys the air of a nocturnal view of cherry blossoms is held. In darkness, the cherry tree lighted up brings on different fantastic atmospheres again in the daytime.

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