We visited several gardens while we were in Japan. But perhaps the best one we saw was Kōraku-en, in Okayama. After all, this garden is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, and was definitely on my list of things to check out.
Kōraku-en was built in 1700 by Ikeda Tsunamasa, the Lord of Okayama. It has all the features of a Japanese garden, as one would expect given a garden of this calibre.
We walked the numerous pathways. We climbed the little hills. We observed the fish swimming peacefully within the waters. We stepped over the flying stones that allowed us to cross these waters to go to the other side. And everywhere we looked, it was simply pretty. There were teahouses and other structures dotting the landscape, and in some of these, it was just absolutely inviting to step in, remove one's shoes, and sit down, watching the view unfold. Sometimes, in a fast-moving environment like Japan, it nevertheless is possible to find an oasis of serenity, such as this garden.
So yeah, if you're in Okayama, check this place out. We definitely did, before taking the Shinkansen and moving on.
