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Monday, November 8, 2010

Cat's Postcard from Kanazawa, Japan


Photograph above from internet (during springtime).



















 

Photograph above from this trip (taken during autumn).


KANAZAWA, JAPAN, 8th November 2010 - Hiking the way up to Kenrokuen Garden, I stopped briefly at this street.

I remember this place because I saw a photograph somewhere of this stretch of shops and street during spring (first photograph above).

It's a thrill to recognize the place and see the trees - even if they are shorn of their spring glory.

Wind was bracing, light was fading even if it was mid-afternoon...few people about.

*rubs hands*

Mood: anticipation
(in seeing one of the top three most beautiful gardens in Japan)




25 comments:

  1. Kenroku-en (兼六園, Six Attributes Garden), located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan, is an old private garden developed from the 1620s to 1840s by the Maeda clan, the daimyo who ruled the former Kaga Domain.

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  2. Kenroku-en contains roughly 8,750 trees, and 183 species of plants in total. Among the garden's points of special interest are the following (acc to wiki):

    * the oldest fountain in Japan, operating by natural water pressure.

    * Yūgao-tei, a teahouse, the oldest building in the garden, built 1774

    * Shigure-tei, a rest House that was originally built by the 5th lord Tsunanori, reconstructed at its present location in 2000

    * Karasaki Pine, planted from seed by the 13th lord Nariyasu from Karasaki, near Lake Biwa

    * Kotoji-tōrō, a stone lantern with two legs, said to resemble the bridge on a koto. This lantern is emblematic of Kenroku-en and Kanazawa.

    * Flying Geese Bridge (Gankō-bashi), made of eleven red stones, laid out to resemble geese in a flying formation

    * Kaiseki Pagoda, said to have been donated to the Maeda by Toyotomi Hideyoshi

    In winter, the park is notable for its yukitsuri — ropes attached in a conical array to carefully support tree branches in the desired arrangements, thereby protecting the trees from damage caused by heavy snows.

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  3. What an interesting place...and welcome home!

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  4. thanks for the Postcard Cuh, very thoughtful of you..

    :) lovely place indeed!

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  5. I'd be alone in Bern, Switzerland, sama ka, Cuh? heheeh..Arno's going there to attend a seminar, and I love the city so much, so I'd travel with him, since he'd drive with our card..about 3 hours drive..it would be nice to have someone, but no one's available among my friends at the moment..sama ka na! :)

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  6. hahaha..kung ang Bern lang ay isang train ride from here, sasama ako sa yo Nonzki...

    eto nga, kararating lang sa Pinas, but canvassing among friends and officemates whats the next airfare promo and san pupunta...(hahaha..even if yung bruised knees di pa ayos)

    thanks for the thought though, eto na, 2012 nagiisip na talaga ng trip to Europe...shempre daanan ka para mahatak sa ikotan..

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  7. Very nice photos Cat. Thanks for the report.
    Hugs.

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  8. thanks po, am trying to build up some momentum to post photos...argh...just too many things to do now that its back to reality...

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  9. hi John...lovely place, Kanazawa is...but for me the atmosphere was a bit different..

    hmm..maybe I got put off by the crow/raven/whatever that flew over and dropped a bomb on my pant's leg...hehehe...

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  10. They say that is brings good luck so don't complain. Much worse if it is a Seagull though.
    Hugs.

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  11. eh?

    having a crow/raven/black bird thingie drop his poop on you is good luck?

    *puzzled look* I haven't read that part of Japanese superstitions :-)

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  12. but you know, maybe the landlady of the ryokan I went to gave me 2 lovely pairs of their lacquered chopsticks in sympathy...hehehe...

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  13. It is actually an English one so I'm not suprised.

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  14. English folks think getting a raven or crow's poo is good luck?
    wow, now I've heard everything...hehehe

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  15. from beautiful garden to raven's poop...ah..Multiply...what a site...

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  16. Yes. I'm very glad that Cows can't fly.
    Hugs.

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  17. Yes, Multiply covers all needs and situations.
    Hugs.

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  18. cows I can probably take..its when pigs do that I must scurry...

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  19. hahaha...daghang salamat Mommy Peachy...

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  20. Cat, hindi ako si Peachy, but I get the message.

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  21. ano ba yan...old age na yata..or automatic fingers...waaah..sorry about that...

    dalawa kc kayo na tinatawag kong Mommy dito...ikaw at si Peachy Mommy..hmm..maybe I should stick to that..you will be Mommy Loy, she will be Peachy Mommy so that my fingers will differentiate...

    ah..may isa pa..si Mommy V..pero wala na sya dito sa Multiply...abandoned kami sa groupo...:-)

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