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Friday, May 11, 2012

Sorakuen Garden to be happy and enjoy together

Sorakuen Garden (相楽園) is only one Japanese garden in Kobe located close to Hyogo Prefectural Office in the center of the city. It is an oasis of the busy city.  The name of the garden is from the words in the old Chinese book 和悦相楽 (わしてよろこびあいたのしむ) which means  "Let's be happy and enjoy together."



The foundation of Sorakuen Garden was laid in 1885 as a part of Taijiro Kodera’s residence  and completed in 1911.  A magnificent mansion and other buildings once stood on the grounds, but the fires caused by the air raids during WWII left only the European-style stable and the surrounding walls and gates.  Kobe City took over the garden in 1941 and opened it to the public under the name "Soraku-en".  Later on, the two historically important assets,  Hassam House and Funa-yakata (舟屋形), were moved to this site to be preserved.


This is one of the three gates and is used as the current entrance.  Three gates are made of "keyaki", Japanese tree of the genus Zelkova.



Visitors are first welcomed by a massive, impressive “Big Camphor (大楠)” which is estimated to be 500 years old.  Camphor tree is designated as the Tree of Kobe Citizen.  


The Garden consists of open grass areas and typical Japanese “stroll-garden (池泉回遊式庭園)” which consists of several paths that circle a central pond.


ceremonial tea room Kanshin-tei/浣心亭
People enjoy various different views while strolling around the pond along the paths with ups and downs or walking over the pond via stepping stones or bridges.



 
In spring azaleas and young leaves colorfully express themselves.










About 200 pine trees including Japanese black pines add spirited and dignified atmosphere to the view.  Among all the pine trees I know, I like Japanese black pine best for its rich dark green needle-like leaves and beautiful black colored bark.  It is native to the coastline of Japan and is resistant to salt damage. 



I feel like each twisted black pine is a dragon and each dragon makes up a whole giant dragon in the garden.  Changing light and shadow makes the dragon look alive.


Here it is, a dragon!


Later I learned that there are rare pine trees named "Hakusho (白松)" , or Pinus bungeana, native to China, featured with white bark and trefoil.  I should've known it.



Rustling sound of the stream is constantly heard.



Funayakata, an Important Cultural Property
Funa-yakata was originally a cabin of Kawagoza-bune (川御座船), a houseboat that was used for pleasure cruises by a feudal lord of Himeji.  It is thought to have been constructed between 1682 and 1704.   This is the last Kawagozabune in existence.


The structure is a two-story wooden building with a gabled roof thatched with layers of Japanese cypress bark.  It is highly decorative: all of the wooden sections of the building are treated with lacquer and the ends of he horizontal beams and rafters are decorated with gold leaf.  

It went through three times of dismantling and reconstructing in different places.  After two person's individual efforts to preserve, it was donated to Kobe City in 1980.   



a miniature of "kawagoza-bune", an excursion houseboat 

grass plaza

Open grass area for a garden party was incorporated into the east of the garden.


the gateway to the grass plaza
the stable of old Kodera residence, an Important Cultural Property


Kenkichi Kodera, a former Mayor of Kobe and former owner of Sorakuen, had this stable constructed around 1910.  The building has many interesting features including a circular cupola, a steep roof, dormer windows, rich gable ornaments, and the shape of L structure.  
The Hassam House built around 1902, an Important Cultural Property 
The Hassam House served as the residence of Mr. K. Hassam, an Anglo-Indian trader. This is a typical colonial-style architecture, utilizing a central corridor and verandas, a style that was favored by foreigners who live in Kobe during the Meiji Era (1868-1912).  It was brought over from Kitano (areas of historical foreign residences) and reassembled here.

The climate has been unnerving both weather-wise and in general atmosphere and situation.   Regarding the weather, it has been unstable and unusual big scale tornades (which is called “tatsumaki” in Japanese meaning “whirling and soaring dragon”) caused tremendous damages and destruction in Kita-Kanto area.  While problems do exist in various respects, our lives go on and on accepting the negative outcome grudgingly.   Keeping the problems in mind, we need time "to be happy and enjoy together" not to be driven by the fears or worries and then to face the world again somewhat refreshed.  

34 comments:

  1. This garden looks like a wonderful oasis in the city. Japanese gardens are so full of meaning, peaceful, and reflective. They invite you to wander along the pretty little pathways.

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  2. Beyond beautiful . I love Japan!! (I really have to go there one day!)
    I love the name of the garden - so meaningful!
    Blessings & Joys coming your way!
    Pia xx

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  3. What a delightful garden and pictures stardust, absolutely enjoyed my stroll alongwith you. The black pine trees are beautiful and the perspective of the dragon makes it all the more enchanting. I love the thought of stepping stones and bridges- they have that old world feel to them. I think i can spend many hours strolling in this garden. As the name suggests, It indeed inculcates in you the feelings of peace, happiness and togetherness.

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  4. I like very much the way you've chosen many images to show this interesting and beautiful garden.The reflections on water are lovely.It's good that such places are preserved and open for all to enjoy.
    Thank you!

    Happy weekend Yoko,
    Ruby

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  5. I thought the azaleas and reflections were stunning ... but then I saw that beautiful funayakata and immediately decided that's the best part of the garden! ^^

    Thanks for letting us enjoy this garden with you!

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  6. what a beautiful place. the one shot of the water reflection was stunning!

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  7. You are very wise that to live in this world ...despite life's problems, we still need ... "to be happy and enjoy together" not to be driven by the fears or worries and then to face the world again somewhat refreshed."

    You have done that bit of refreshing by your lovely tour of Sorakuen Garden. Your photos and words are a way we can all walk with you in this beautiful place. I especially love your photo of the single pink azalea (I think that is what it is) with blurred water background. Stay well.

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  8. It looks like quite a big garden and there're lots to see ranging from the invaluable Funa-Yakata,typical Japanese style stroll- garden, a western style stable to a colonial style architecture! Is there fancy restaurants to have a break?
    I am impressed with the way you see things. Yes, let's enjoy and be happy together!

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  9. Thank you so much for the wonderful tour in the Japanese garden, it is so beautiful everywhere, I love the flowers, the temples and the idea about the dragons. I like the house boat with its colours. An interesting story. Your photos are great. You've got such a fine sense of beauty. It's a joy to see your posts, Yoko.
    Have a nice week-end
    Grethe ´)

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  10. What a wonderful History lesson that has been. Japan has so much history. I am so happy you are sharing it with the world. Who would think to look this up? You should be the Ambassador for your city!

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  11. This garden of 'global' happiness is extremely beautiful, Yoko!
    I think such love for the nature can only appear in places where people, through frequent confrontations with nature's magnificence and power, had learnt to appreciate and respect her. Otherwise, as you very well put it, we tend to live "driven by fears and worries". By 'what ifs' which make us insecure and hasty, hence less sensible about what happens with the other beings pursuant to our self well-being actions.

    It must be a great experience to stroll up and down those stone-paved stairs and breathe the freshness of May during a remiss cruise on the houseboat! As usually, your photos are excellent: I love the abundance of flowers and I admire the consideration people have for every bit of a detail which put together make this garden a really special place.

    I hope the dragon will soon decide to have a rest, and let us fully enjoy the gift of the springtime! In my country also the weather is swiftly changing from one day to another...

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  12. I admire your gardens with both great passion for beauty and harmony were created. Really charming. Have a nice weekend wishes to you Peter.

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  13. 様々な様式の庭や建物の楽しめる公園なんですね。どこかしらレトロな感じも受けます。その頃にしてはとてもモダンなデザインなのだと思いますが。さすが神戸らしいです。

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  14. Never expected the garden is in the city. Your vieuws are like they just come out of a fairytale.
    gr. marijke

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  15. What a gorgeous oasis of serenity and beauty! As always, your posts nourish my soul.

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  16. The garden is in the busy city but it looks like so cozy,silence.
    The house boat is placed outside and it's highly decorative with gold leaf. The gold leaf doesn't come off? (余計な心配だけど。)

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  17. cosmos – No, there are no restaurants or cafes in the garden but you can have a break over snacks and drinks which are sold under the tent at the corner of the grass plaza. Its vicinity is the area of public agencies, schools, and private residences. If you’d like fancy restaurants, how about walking along the Tor Road leading to Kitano or going down the street Motomachi area or farther to San-no-miya.

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  18. It is so important to have these oases in big cities. We have a wonderful park in the middle of Montreal and I know how refreshing it is to wander there. Ours is more of a forest. Yours is spectacular with flowers and water. It does help to erase the worries when admiring such beauty.

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  19. konnichiwa! → 今日は → hello → hallo, stardust!

    Thanks a lot for your comments on my blog posts. I was several days on the move / out and about. So I don't had time to answer just in time.

    I really enjoy your post and the photos of Sorakuen Garden (相楽園), especially because I know how much work it is to elaborate a post comprehensively like you do it.

    I'm already courious what might be the topic of your next post... ;-)

    Have a great week,

    Uwe.

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  20. Thank you for the stroll around this amazing gardens. It is such a beautiful place, and your photographs are just lovely. The azaleas and pine trees are wonderful.

    Hope you are fine Yoko!

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  21. sarah – そうなの。私も同じことを思ってます。春には黄砂雑じりの雨が心配。でも、保護する技術が何かあり、コーティングされてるのかもしれません。また、確かめてみますね。

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  22. Thank you for taking us along on this wonderful tour of Sorakuen Garden. What a beautiful oasis in the middle of a busy city. This is an outstanding post filled with interesting information and stunning photographs! As always, your posts are so very lovely. It is always a pleasure to stop by your blog!

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  23. Lovely garden Stardust from your pictures. I especially love the structure of the tree branches with the pop of color. The central open location is perfectly planned for people to sit and chat. Hopefully someday I'll be able to experience this in person, but for now, I'll follow your journeys to all these fabulous places. All my best. Chris

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  24. Your extremely lovely posts always leave me refreshed with visions of the natural beauty of your area, Yoko. The history of the buildings and sites add to the pleasure of visiting here. Your descriptions of the pine trees as you see them was enchanting.

    Hope your weather calms, we had gentle rain all day yesterday after a few weeks of seriously strong thunderstorms!

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  25. I am always so impressed by the people who care enough to preserve historical buildings and artifacts that give a culture its roots. The two people you mentioned who put in the effort to preserve the incredibly important one-of-a-kind houseboat are heroes in this way. I love the photo of the grass plaza with its dots of umbrellas. And I see a dragon as you do in the old tree. I recently was thinking about dragons when I heard of the tornadoes on the news. They are so dangerous yet sometimes heavy winds clear the air, too. I hope no serious harm was caused and am glad to know you are well in your world. :)

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  26. Yoko - thank you so much for your invitation to have a stroll with you!
    I "enjoyed and was happy together with you" while walking around at this amazing and utterly beautiful park - a big and so well cared for garden actually! I love the introduction photo with the sky scrapers in the back ground.
    The old trees are amazing souls who deserve our admiration. The flowers, the ponds, the bridges and buildings, the paths with the cobble stones, the reflections in the water - it all makes us relax and stay away for some hours from the realities of life - giving us back strength to deal with problems and unpleasant matters...

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  27. What a beautiful garden and full of flowers this time of year.

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  28. What a wonderful garden.
    Thanks for sharing this great post and all you beautiful photos.
    Loved the tour.
    I also loved the name of the garden.
    Wish you a wonderful day.
    Mette

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  29. stunningly beautiful!! my sister in law is from japan and she shows us many beautiful pictures of her country too..I would love to visit there someday...
    I am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.

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  30. Yoko, all your posts are so wonderful. Your love for the beauty of your country shines though them.

    I am sorry I have found it hard to visit more since my husband has Alzheimers and is very demanding.

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  31. Lovely :). I shall dream of going to Japan tonight. Thanks Yoko, Evelyn

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  32. what an amazing and relaxing place!

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  33. I wish I could visit your country and see all the beautiful gardens. It is like a lovely dream.
    David/:0)

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