Experience Ritsurin: A Unique Wasan Boat Perspective
Hirahō's 飛来峰 Illuminated Panorama: An Evening Delight
The Michelin Green Guide Japan, like other Michelin Green Guides, awards a maximum of three stars to destinations. This rating system is designed to evaluate the worthiness of a site for travelers:
Three stars (⭐⭐⭐): "Worth a special journey" – the highest accolade, reserved for exceptional places that are considered must-visit destinations.
Two stars (⭐⭐): "Worth a detour" – indicates a site that is highly recommended if you're in the area.
One star (⭐): "Interesting" – denotes a place worth seeing if it's convenient.
Ritsurin Garden, located in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan, is a stunning example of a traditional Japanese strolling garden that has earned the prestigious three-star rating from the Michelin Green Guide Japan. This top rating signifies that the garden is considered "worth a special journey," a testament to its exceptional beauty, historical significance, and meticulous design.
Designed in the chisen-kaiyu-shiki (pond-strolling) style, Ritsurin Garden invites visitors to wander its paths, where the scenery shifts with each step—a concept known as ippo ikkei ("one step, one view"). The garden incorporates the "borrowed scenery" technique (shakkei), using Mount Shiun as a natural backdrop to enhance its aesthetic appeal. Highlights include the picturesque South Pond (Nanko), the crescent-shaped Engetsukyo Bridge, and the Kikugetsu-tei Teahouse, where visitors can enjoy matcha tea while soaking in the tranquil surroundings.
Nightfall at Hirahō飛来峰: A Stunning View (YouTube link)
On this autumn day, I visited Ritsurin Garden during the daytime and the evening, using the same entrance ticket. Note that evening opening was a special event during the autumn colors season or other occasions. The photos below are a testament to my special journey through the garden's strolling path.
Shinshoji Temple (神勝寺), a zen and garden Museum (禅と庭のミュージアム), is a place where you can experience what Zen is through various activities, such as sipping a bowl of tea, studying calligraphy, tasting food that sustains life, cleansing the dirt from body and mind, and strolling through the garden.
The vast grounds are dotted with a 17th-century building relocated from Shiga Prefecture (滋賀県), a restored teahouse designed by Sen no Rikyu (千利休の茶室), and a shrine office created by architect and architectural historian Fujimori Terunobu (藤森照信); these grounds make extensive use of pine trees—a plant that symbolizes the region from the Sanyo Road to the Seto Inland Sea—and the garden is arranged to connect these buildings.
The Hakuin Collection, one of the largest in Japan, is also a highlight of the museum, consisting of approximately 200 Zen paintings and calligraphy pieces by Zen master Hakuin (白隠禅師). These works will be exhibited throughout the year in the permanent exhibition hall, Sogendo (荘厳堂), with displays being rotated periodically. The pavilion Kotei (洸庭), designed by sculptor Kohei Nawa (名和晃平) and his creative platform Sandwich, stands in contrast to the Zen art collection. The boat-shaped structure, made of a single material and wrapped in wood, allows visitors to experience an installation inside the space that reflects light from waves. This installation interprets and expresses the teachings of Zen through the perspective of contemporary art.
Every Leaf a Flower: 花紅苑's Autumn Transformation (YouTube link)
Photo Gallery
On this autumn day at Shinshoji Temple, the maple leaves peaked in vibrant red hues, transforming the grounds into a masterpiece. Each leaf bloomed like a delicate flower, creating a warm, wondrous landscape. Strolling through this tranquil haven, I immersed myself in the season's splendor, savoring the red and gold foliage at a leisurely pace—a moment of pure bliss etched in nature's palette.
