A Walk In The Yoshekien Garden in Nara, Japan

Day 5 in Nara: Deer Park - Todaiji Temple in Nara - YOSHIKIEN GARDEN - Kofukuji Temple - Naramachi street

Standing in the shadows of the more famous Ishien garden, Yoshekien garden is a quiet, tranquil place located just 10 minutes away from either the Todai-ji temple and the Kofuku-ji temple (next diary entry). The biggest advantage of this garden over Ishien is that it is absolutely free for the tourists which serves as a boon for the visitors touring the country.

Yoshekien Garden

Formerly serving as the dwelling of priests from the Kofuku-ji temple, the garden went under private possession in the Meiji Era before being taken over by the Nara Prefectural Government in 1918. After construction of buildings and other structures, the Garden finally opened its gates to the general people in 1989. The Garden comprises three areas namely the Pond Garden, the Moss Garden, and the Tea-ceremonial Flower Garden, each sequentially unlocking the gates to the other.


So, come along...

Yoshikien garden in Nara, Japan
Entrance

Let's walk the paths that weave through beautiful vistas and soothing landscapes,

Steps in the Yoshikien garden in Nara, Japan
Way forward in the Yoshikien garden in Nara, Japan
Moss garden at the Yoshikien garden in Nara, Japan
The pathways inside the garden

Let's stand by the tranquil pond,

A view of the Pond garden at the Yoshikien garden in Nara, Japan
Pond Garden

And admire the beauty that the lovely flowers behold...

Beautiful flowers at the Yoshikien garden in Nara, Japan
Moss growth at the Yoshikien garden in Nara, Japan
Moss Garden

Or, let us take a seat in the tea house and drink in the wisdom...

Tea house at the Yoshikien garden in Nara, Japan
Tea house

Nature beckons us sometimes...

Moss garden views at the Yoshikien garden in Nara, Japan
Moss Garden

To walk on it's ways... and understand the ways of life and living.

Once the abode of temple priests, a leisurely walk in the garden gave us the feeling that the place has retained it’s pious vibrations of yore...

Way to the Moss garden at the Yoshikien garden in Nara, Japan

Flourishing with a quiet pond that reveal the splendors of life, stony paths that lead from one step to another, elegant flowers that bloom bright and joyful or the hushed panoramas that echo the pleasing sound of tranquility, a walk in the Yoshekien garden was all about pleasant reflections,

About reflections that juxtapose the outsides and the insides,

Resting place at the Yoshikien garden in Nara, Japan

And, about reflections... that heal the mind, body and the soul.

Pond garden at the Yoshikien garden in Nara, Japan

Previous Posts from the Japan Trip -

1. Planning for Japan: Visa, Flight Bookings, Hotel Reservations, etc.

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88 Comments

  1. This garden is so beautifull and really can feel the peace with just the pictures you have shared ... your earlier post on the temple was so enchanting too ... I guess the beauty of japan is its countryside and traditions that people follow and pass on to their future generations...love every bit of your posts in japan

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  2. मै तो इस गार्डन को देखकर चेरापूंजी की यादो में खो गया । शांति और शीशे का रिफलेक्शन दोनो सुंदर हैं

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  3. Gorgeous captures as always, Arti! What incredibly beautiful gardens!! Your photos are the next best thing to being there myself! Thank you so much for sharing the beauty! Have a wonderful weekend!

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  4. Just what I was in need of, I did enjoy my stroll.

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  5. Oh how beautiful and enchanting!!! almost like a Rainforest garden!

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  6. Your photos are incredible! It feels like I've gone along on the trip with you. Wonderful blog post!

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  7. Oh, how very very beautiful!

    Wishing you a wonderful Christmas season.

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  8. What a lovely post Arti. It was indeed soothing & a real feast of greenery for the eyes.

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  9. The place looks so green,vibrant serene and well maintained. Incredible!

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  10. Beautiful place. Nice captures Arti.

    www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.in

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  11. Inspirational as usual... the experience of vicariously visiting those places livens me up every time I visit your blog.

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  12. Wonderful photos, again, Arti! I love Japanese gardens. Here in Hawaii, people often create Japanese gardens in their yards, but these are usually Rock gardens with less foliage.

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  13. Ooooh, I like the second picture - so pretty!

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  14. So Beautiful garden and love the captures.Thank you so much for sharing nice post Arti :)
    Have a nice weekend to you & all.

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  15. Gorgeous garden, and beautiful photos.

    MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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  16. I am beginning to fall in love with Japan through your pictures. :) Great shots!

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  17. जापान में मैंने जहाँ जहाँ Japanese Garden देखे यही लगा कि छोटे मोटे जंगल से गुजर रहे हों। हाँ ये जरूर था कि इन उद्यानों में तालाब एक अनिवार्य अंग दिखा। Autumn के मौसम में जब यही पत्ते लाल नारंगी की मिश्रित आभा लेते होंगे तो ये उद्यान और भी खूबसूरत लगता होगा।

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  18. I can’t describe Yoshiki-en Garden better than you, Arti. I love the garden but never been to in that season. One of the photos in my latest post “Stay Gold” is moss garden and tea house with fallen leaves. Did you recognize? Have a nice holiday season.

    Yoko

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  19. A picture is worth thousand words, your photos prove this.

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  20. I so love these gardens. To walk through just beautiful scenery. You brought me a bit of heaven. May you have a very blessed Christmas and a wonderful new year. Hugs Carrie

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  21. It's good garden. You had a nice trip.
    I have never been this garden.
    Wishing you a wonderful Sunday.

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  22. The garden looks so fabulous and inviting for a stroll! Glad it was opened for free of cost and well maintained.

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  23. Wonderful pictures - I really did spend too much time in cities when I was in Japan!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Australia

    PS: hope you have a great Christmas

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  24. Your photos really make me want to visit Japan Arti!

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  25. This garden has such a lovely and peaceful atmosphere - very harmonious and pretty! We are shortly before christmas here and i want to thank you for your sweet and lovely friendship! Your blog is always an inspiration to me and i love to virtually travel with you! xox

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  26. wow! nice garden and you captured beautifully

    happy xmas and newyear

    thanks for sharing

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  27. The pictures sure sooth the body , mind and soul, Arti:)

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  28. Hello, Arti.

    I feel warmth in the heart, the soul.
    Wishing you all the Happiest of Holidays!

    Thank you for your kindness.
    ruma from Japan

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  29. I'm curious , are japanese have own art or rule to make a park, because all japanese park look same everywhere :)Nice place to relax Arti , have great weekend :)

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  30. soon I wont need to go to japan as I would have seen it all here on your blog :) thank you so much for sharing everything


    Bikram's

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  31. What a beautiful and tranquil place to spend a few hours. I love places like these. All of your Nara posts have inspired me to visit and feel bad we missed it last year.

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  32. I have been there only once to sketch nice garden. That moss in your photo is 杉苔(sugigoke)maybe.
    Sugi means Japanese cedar. I heard it's hard to grow. You must have seen lovely sugigoke group.
    Enjoy this woderful time and a Happy New Year!

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  33. The entrance is awesome! And that seems to be just the beginning! And don't even get me started on the tea part! :)

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  34. Arti,
    Thanks a lot for introducing this garden. You show the essence of beauty of a Japanese garden wonderfully. Generally speaking, to maintain the garden very well is also part of the training to polish the mind.
    I remember very well how reflections of the inside and the outside became one and healed the soul and mind. They were just aesthetic!
    keiko

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  35. You take such beautiful photos, Arti. We are so fortunate to be able to travel and see beauty all over the world.

    Wishing you a wonderful New Year and many more lovely journal entries. Thanks for following my art blog. Your friend, Mary

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  36. Such a peacefull garden! And your photos are really exquisite, Arti ... beautiful post, as always!! Happy New year to you, dear!

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  37. What beautiful, tranquil pictures these are! Thy make me want to fly to Japan right now and settle down half a planet away from where I grew up.

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  38. sorry to know about personal loss
    good luck

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  39. You're so right. Soothing is the word for Japanese Gardens. I've been to two and found that they really are a class apart.
    They have an ambiance of tranquility even if there are a lot of visitors around.

    Lovely pictures, Arti. And Happy New Year to you.

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  40. Hi Arti, my sincere condolence and thoughts are with you.

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  41. I do not know the exact words to say to comfort you yet know that I am with you in thoughts and prayer....I will be here when you gather your strength to write again...

    ...that garden is so beautiful and wonderfully captured by you..as always...

    please do take care...:)

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  42. From these pictures one could identify a lot about Japan and Japanese people, it looks so peaceful.
    What are these small Cottages meant to be ?

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  43. @Abhishek They are different types of rooms present in the different gardens - one among them is a tea house while the others are type of living rooms but I don't think entry inside any of them is allowed.

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  44. beautiful pictures ..

    yippee 50th comment to this post :-)

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  45. Beautiful garden, very neatly done.

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  46. captivating description including images.

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  47. One more day in Japan, thanks to you Arti! :)

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  48. wallah !!! amazing pics as usual Arti !!

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  49. A picture speaks more than a thousand words, and with your posting style this seems a lot of expression :)

    Loved the post- illustrative, well connected and meaningful as ever!


    Cheers!
    Indigenou

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  50. Wow ! What a tranquil place !

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  51. Arti your posts on Japan are a class apart-you capture the serenity & beauty of these places and also tell us the salient features--thank you!!!

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  52. It is such a tranquil and a pleasant place...Beautiful spots captured so well, Arti. Three-in-one garden!:))
    Great narration as always...thanks for sharing :)

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  53. Gorgeous. Than you for taking us there. Enjoyed!

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  54. Arti,looking at your pictures I wish somebody send me there right now :)
    http://www.ankionthemove.com/

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  55. serenity all around...:) you must be having a lot of introspective phases..:)

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  56. Beautiful place. Calmness and peace everywhere . Would like to spend hours here.

    Travel India

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  57. Bring it on...there so little on Japan in Indian blogosphere.

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  58. Full of life with greens , nice pictures aarthi !

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  59. Nice capture. Lovely place.Its a pleasant Japanese garden in central Nara.A small river runs beside the garden and its really awesome!

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  60. lovely garden and nice capture :)

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  61. beautiful pictures and a great post! Thanks for sharing. THat makes me want to go to Japan. :)

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  62. Superb, really great
    best luck for future..stay connected with https://clickitab.wordpress.com/

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  63. wow, this looks delicately beautiful. I heard Japan has the most pleasant climate throughtout the year, with such humble and respectful people.

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  64. Thanks for the information along with those beautiful photographs. The comination is very informative.

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  65. Awesome post and good photographs. Hope you keep travelling and bring us new stories everyday.

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  66. Very Nice Post. Well written. Photograph is good. thanks for sharing wid us.

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  67. WOW!! Seems like a spectacular park!!! Wish I would visit someday :) www.exploreitmyway.com

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  68. Beautiful and lovely pictures.

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  69. Absolutely exquisite pictures :) loved the post utterly!

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  70. Very nice article. Good for you for traveling there.

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