Roger's Pictures
June 18, 2023
On the last leg before reaching Kyoto, we
stopped in Okayama to revisit Korakuen, one of the three most
famous gardens in Japan. Completed in 1700 as a back
garden for the castle, it was opened to the public
in 1884. Most of what is now covered with grass was
once cultivated fields. From there we stopped
briefly in Kobe to visit the historic western style houses on
a steep hill north of the city.
 tHatch roof detail |
 water wheel |
 pine tree |
 Kanki-tei rest house |
 View across Sawa-no-ike pond |
 distant view of Okayama Castle |
 View across Sawa-no-ike pond |
 duck among the koi |
 feeding frenzy |
 turtle |
 boat shelter |
 Seiden fields - rice paddies and lotus |
 Shinden rest house beyong the lotus |
 lotus |
 lotus |
 lotus |
 lotus |
 iris garden |
 view across Sawa-no-ike iris garden |
 iris garden |
 Ryutem rest house |
 Ryutem rest house |
 Ryutem rest house |
 stepping stones |
 view from Yuishinzan Hill |
 view from Yuishinzan Hill |
 wedding photos... |
 iris garden |
 Yatsuhashi Bridge - 8 planks to make you slow down and enjoy the irises |
 iris garden |
 iris garden |
 iris garden |
 iris garden |
 iris and hydrangea |
 spare irises |
 Okayama Castle from the garden |
 distant Ryuten rest house and iris garen |
 Kako-no-taki falls |
 caffeine break... |
 macha dregs... |
 Renchi-ken rest house |
 Renchi-ken rest house |
 Renchi-ken rest house |
 Renchi-ken rest house |
 Yuishinzan Hill |
 pine tree |
 Okayama Castle |
 fork in the road... |
 remains of old boat landing and bamboo |
 maple and camellia |
 maple and bamboo |
 mushroom |
 mushroom |
 reflections |
 lotus in Kayo-no-ike pond with Enyotei house in the background |
 lotus leaves |
 grey heron |
 Eisho-bashi bridge |
 Odateishi Rock - split into 90 pieces to move to garden! |
 Odateishi Rock - split into 90 pieces to move to garden! |
 Odateishi Rock - split into 90 pieces to move to garden! |
 Odateishi Rock with hydrangea |
 Enyotei house |
 across Kayo-no-ike pond |
 lotus |
 lotus |
 stone lantern and maple |
 thatched roof |
 Kakumei-kan guest house |
 Jarijima island |
 doesn't look to be used often... |
 |
 Moegi House built 1903 - former residence of US Consul-General |
 art nouveau-style Weathercock House - built 1909 for a German trader |
 art nouveau-style Weathercock House - built 1909 for a German trader |
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 |
 Denmark House |
 |
 Kobe from Kitano |
 Rhine House |
 French and English houses |