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Experiences

Spotlight

Unseen photo spots in Kyoto (Part 1)

2022.5.26

Visit the beauty of Kyoto: bamboo forests, moss gardens, and tea rooms

Photo by ©︎shokado garden art museum

Even for those who say they have visited Kyoto many times, there are still many beautiful landscapes that they do not know about. We will introduce four such beautiful scenic spots that are only known to those in the know. If you take a short trip outside of Kyoto City, you will be able to enjoy the Japanese aesthetic sense that has been nurtured through history, even though there are still few tourists. Let's take beautiful photos of our encounters with unforgettable landscapes that stimulate our senses, and go on a journey that will remain in our hearts and memories for a long time. In the first part, we will introduce beautiful Japanese gardens and bamboo forests.

 

 

Tea room, moss garden, bamboo forest, camellia...the photogenic beauty of Japan
Shokado Garden and Art Museum (Yawata City, Kyoto Prefecture)


Shokado Garden Shokado Garden

A strolling garden with beautiful green trees.


Shokado Municipal Garden and Art Museum is located in Yawata City, a little away from the bustle of Kyoto City. It would be easier to tell if it is near Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine, which is designated as a national treasure. This garden is associated with Shokado Shojo, the origin of Shokado bento. You can take a leisurely stroll through the approximately 2 square meter garden while feeling the seasons. At the entrance to the garden full of greenery, you will see a monument to the poems of poet Isamu Yoshii.

 

``A hermit living in Io, called Shōjō, is happy to sleep nearby.''
From the song collection “Zanmu”

 

This is a poem written by Yoshii, who lived in Yawata, in memory of Shokado Shojo. This area, which is associated with the Shojo era, also provides inspiration for modern literature, giving the impression that it is accumulating into a new Japanese culture.


Shokado Garden Camellia Shokado Garden Camellia

The entire garden is covered with beautiful moss, and you can see carp in the pond that uses underground water. The entire garden is covered with beautiful moss, and you can see carp in the pond that uses underground water.

The entire garden is covered with beautiful moss, and you can see carp in the pond that uses underground water.



As you walk into the garden, you will find a beautiful bamboo grove and lush moss, immersing you in the world of wabi-sabi, the Japanese aesthetic sense. There are about 40 types of bamboo, plum, cherry, camellia, and maple trees in the garden, and it is a stroll-style garden that changes its appearance depending on the season. On the premises, there is a tea room called "Matsugakure" which is a reproduction of the tea room "Kanunken" built for Shojo by Kobori Enshu, a famous daimyo tea master, as well as the tea room "Matsugakure" which is a reproduction of the tea room "Kanunken" built for Shojo by Enshu Kobori, who is famous as a daimyo tea master. There is a hermitage called ``Shokado'' (a cultural property designated by Kyoto Prefecture) that was used as a residence.


Matsugakure is a tea room with a nine-tatami hall and a four-tatami booth called Kanunken. It can also be used for tea parties etc. Matsugakure is a tea room with a nine-tatami hall and a four-tatami booth called Kanunken. It can also be used for tea parties etc.

Matsugakure is a tea room with a nine-tatami hall and a four-tatami booth called Kanunken. It can also be used for tea parties etc.


Izumbo Shoin Izumbo Shoin

``Izumibo'' is one of the temples in Otokoyama. The ``Izumbo Shoin'' (Kyoto Prefecture registered cultural property) located in the garden is currently under construction and cannot be visited.


Shokado Shokado

Shokado is the hermitage where Shonori moved the building where he lived after his retirement. The special exhibition will be held until May 2022, 5.

Photo by ©︎shokado garden art museum

 


There are three other tea rooms, one of which is ``Suikinkutsu'' in front of ``Umegakure''. The sensibilities and aftertaste that Japanese people have cherished for a long time are quietly preserved here.


Good omen Good omen


Next to the garden is ``Kyoto Yincho''. The photo shows Shokado bento "Miyabi", 8,300 yen. It's special to eat in a place connected to Shokado, where today's Shokado bento originated. Next to the garden is ``Kyoto Yincho''. The photo shows Shokado bento "Miyabi", 8,300 yen. It's special to eat in a place connected to Shokado, where today's Shokado bento originated.

Next to the garden is ``Kyoto Yincho''. The photo shows Shokado bento "Miyabi", 8,300 yen. It's special to eat in a place connected to Shokado, where today's Shokado bento originated.


It is not uncommon for art museums to have restaurants attached to them, but what is noteworthy about the Shokado Museum of Art is that it has the ``Kyoto Yincho Shokado Branch.'' It is said that Teiichi Yuki, the founder of Yincho, came up with the Shokado bento after seeing a painted box with partitions that Shokado used as a storage space when he visited Shokado for a tea ceremony. There is. I wonder how many origins of Japanese sensibilities can be found here. With this in mind, I eat Shokado bento. It is truly a moment of bliss.

 

Shokado Garden/Art Museum

43-1 Yawata Joroka, Yawata City, Kyoto Prefecture
Business hours: 9:17 to 16:30 (admission until XNUMX:XNUMX)
Closed: Mondays (the following weekday if Monday is a holiday) and December 12th to January 27th

 

Kyoto Yincho Shokado store

43-1 Yawata Joroka, Yawata City, Kyoto Prefecture
Business hours: Lunch 11:00 – 15:00 *LO depends on the dish
Dinner 17:00 – 21:30 (LO 19:00) *Reservation required
Regular holiday: Monday [If Monday is a holiday, it will be moved to the next weekday]
Year-end and New Year holidays [December 12th to January 26th]

For the time being, we are accepting reservations up to two days before your desired visit date, and will be temporarily closed on days without reservations.

 

 


The blue sky and the lush bamboo forest create a beautiful contrast between the sky and greenery.
Bamboo Path (Muko City, Kyoto Prefecture)


Bamboo Path has been certified as one of the ``500 Best Walking Paths in Japan'' and ``XNUMX Best Walking Streets in Japan.'' Bamboo Path has been certified as one of the ``500 Best Walking Paths in Japan'' and ``XNUMX Best Walking Streets in Japan.''

Bamboo Path has been certified as one of the ``500 Best Walking Paths in Japan'' and ``XNUMX Best Walking Streets in Japan.''



``Fukadagaki'' is inspired by the sparkling surface of a river. ``Fukadagaki'' is inspired by the sparkling surface of a river.

``Fukadagaki'' is inspired by the sparkling surface of a river.


Located in front of the Terado-Otsuka Tumulus, there is a ``kofun fence'' that resembles a keyhole-shaped tumulus. Photo by ©︎ City of MUKO Located in front of the Terado-Otsuka Tumulus, there is a ``kofun fence'' that resembles a keyhole-shaped tumulus. Photo by ©︎ City of MUKO

Located in front of the Terado-Otsuka Tumulus, there is a ``kofun fence'' that resembles a keyhole-shaped tumulus.

Photo by ©︎ City of MUKO


When talking about Kyoto's Bamboo Forest Road, many people probably think of Arashiyama's ``Bamboo Path'', but there is actually a ``Bamboo Path'' in Kyoto that is only known to those in the know. Muko City, Kyoto Prefecture is home to the Muko Hills, which is known as a production area for bamboo shoots, and has a beautiful bamboo tunnel called ``Bamboo Path.'' The approximately 1km bamboo forest path is loved by locals as a ``healing walking path.'' This is a great little-known photo spot that is still relatively unknown to tourists.

 

There are eight types of bamboo fences along this ``Bamboo Path'', which is also one of the highlights. Each one has a meaning and can be used as an accent while strolling. The sunlight spilling down from the tall bamboo leaves, the chirping of birds, and the sound of bamboo.
Everything feels so good, and before you know it, you can feel your heart becoming empty. Please make sure to wear shoes that are comfortable for walking.

 

 


Bamboo diameter

Address: Shibayama, Terado-cho, Muko-shi - Nagano, Moshume-cho, Nakakaido area

 

 

 

 

photography by Natsuko Okada

 

 


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