Ritsurin Park

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A view from a hill in Ritsurin Park

Ritsurin Park (栗林公園, Ritsurin Kōen^?) (栗林 means chestnut grove) is one of the most famous and most beautiful historical parks in Japan. The park is situated in the city of Takamatsu and is considered one of its main attractions. The park contains a tea house, various folk art and craft exhibits (including the Sanuki Folk Craft Museum), as well as various folk art and craft items for sale.

A tour through the park will take approximately 60 minutes to two hours. There are various bridges, footpaths and small hills which offer a beautiful view of the park and the surrounding scenery, most notably Mt. Shuin at the western border of the park. The small lakes are filled with thousands of koi.

1 History
2 Scenery
3 Access
4 External links

[edit] History

The buildings in the Park date back to the early 17th century. In 1625, the feudal lord of Sanuki, Ikoma Takatoshi (生駒高俊, Ikoma Takatoshi^?), began construction Ritsurin, specifically the building of a garden around the South Pond using the beautiful greenery of Mt. Shiun as a backdrop. Beginning in 1642, Matsudaira Yorishige (松平頼重, Matsudaira Yorishige^?) took over the area and continued its construction. The work was completed by the Fifth Lord Yoritaka in 1745 after 100 years of improvements and extensions made by the successive lords. After the new Meiji government took control, the park was designated a prefectural park and opened to the public. In 1953, the park was designated a Japanese National Treasure (日本の特別名勝, Nihon no Tokubetsu Meishō^?).

[edit] Scenery

Kikugetu-tei: This teahouse was built in the early years of the Edo period (around 1640).
Hakomatsu: Black pine trees are carefully cultivated; their branches, twigs, and needles are elaborately trimmed into geometrical shapes and figures.
Kikugetsu-tei
Hiraiho
Fuyō-ho
Wild Duck Hunting Moat