Ritsurin Park in Takamatsu is worth the bother of a trip!?
Ritsurin park was designated as a “Special Place of Scenic Beauty,” which is particularly valuable as a scenic spot in Japan in 1953, and externally, it was awarded the highest rating of three stars, meaning “worth the bother of a trip,” in the French travel guide book “Michelin Green Guide Japon“.
Ritsurin Park was originally created by Shimanosuke Sato, a vassal of the lord of Takamatsu Castle in the Muromachi period (1336-1573) for the Buddhist faith, and was later built by Yorishige Matsudaira, the lord of Takamatsu, in 1745 (in the mid-Edo period).
The garden is said to be the largest walk-through garden in Japan, and its flat garden area is said to be as large as 3.5 times the size of Tokyo Dome.
In Ritsurin Park, the garden and Mt. Siun in the background unite to form a borrowed landscape that creates a profound view.
The park has six ponds and thirteen hills, with a south lake for boating, and beautiful seasonal flowers and trees, including cherry blossoms in spring, to enjoy the changing scenery.
Kikugetsu-tei, a serene zen garden
In the south garden, there is Kikugetsu-tei, which was built in the 17th century in the early Edo period (1603-1868), where successive feudal lords enjoyed tea ceremonies and dances, and a serene zen garden can be enjoyed there, also.
Located in the central area of Takamatsu City, it is easily accessible, and one of typical directions is a 3-minute walk from JR Ritsurin Koen Kitaguchi Station.
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