Okayama Kōrakuen
岡山後楽園

Okayama Kōrakuen garden

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A daimyo garden built in the early Edo period (seventeenth century). It was formerly called Kōen, but the name changed to Kōrakuen in the Meiji period, and is now called Okayama Kōrakuen in order to distinguish it from Kōrakuen garden in Koishikawa, Tokyo. It contains a pond called Sawa no ike, an artificial hill called Yuishinzan, and a large lawn, and neighboring rice and tea fields are also important elements. Ryūten, a two-story building made to hold the Meandering Stream Banquet is important for understanding how daimyo gardens were used. Okayama Kōrakuen garden is designated a national special scenic spot, and is located in the city of Okayama, Okayama prefecture.

Japanese Garden Dictionary: A Glossary for Japanese Gardens and Their History
(C) 2010 by Ono Kenkichi and Walter Edwards. All rights reserved.