A Few More Sights at Kyu Furukawa Gardens

As I wrote in my previous post, parts of the Kyu Furukawa Gardens were blocked off for maintenance during my prior visit. This time I was able to get a look at the tea house. From a distance since it's not open all the time. 

I was also able to see a few other buildings. 

And stone lanterns, toro. 

There were still a lot of clouds in the sky, creating interesting views. 

 Walking back towards the entrance, there is this large stone warehouse.

It was easy to imagine all sorts of things in the half light. I wonder if any horror films have been made here? It did have a medieval look.  

Walking back, I took a moment to appreciate the view of the mansion. A feeling of timelessness. 

And a bit ominous. 

Since I missed seeing any roses, I thought I would take a look at the entrance of the house. Turns out it was open. 

For tea. Since it was important to replenish fluids, I decided to have a cup of. I went with iced and they gave me a small tour of a couple of the rooms. It was nice to sit inside looking out at the gardens. What a nice feeling it must have been for the people who lived there. 

One last look at the mansion and that intense sky.

Back to Kyu Furukawa Gardens

My goal for this day in Tokyo was to return to the Kyu Furukawa Gardens. It is a very inexpensive place to visit and I was hoping to see something I didn't see the first time. 

The flowers around the mansion were now in bloom and the plants looked lusher and greener. 

The sky however was more clouds than blue. 

At times, it gave an ominous feeling to the place. So I went in search of what I didn't see the last time. Roses.

 They had cut all of them.

I walked through the formal rose garden where I did find a couple buds. 

 So like the last time, I walked through the Japanese garden.

Given the heat and high humidity, and how verdant everything was, I wondered if this is what it felt like in a rain forest.

The view up to the mansion still had a classic feel. The plants were filled out since it was summer.

 One nice thing were the butterflies. Really large Alpine Black Swallowtails flew by but I wasn't able to get a photograph. However this Indian Fritillary pranced across the rock in front of me, like it was posing for a photo.

Another nice thing was that there weren't any places closed off for maintenance. There were a number of things I was unable to see back in March, so this time I was able to get a better look. 

Of course I walked around the heart pond.

Since I have a few more photographs, I will continue this tomorrow.

Kyu Furukawa Gardens part two

Below the house and rose garden at Kyu Furukawa there is a large Japanese garden. Designed by Ogawa Jihei, also known as Niwashi-Ueji, known for his landscapes in Kyoto at that time.

Most of the garden can be seen from a viewing shelter in between the house and the garden below. 

Which was a nice place to rest from walking, where some enjoyed a snack and others waited to see if they might get a little something to eat. 

Steps and paths led down to the garden below. 

To the pond with it's many bridges including this, the Houseki-bashi. 

The pond is in the shape of the character for kokoro, 心, which is a rather complicated kanji character. The usual translation is "heart" or "mind" but it means more than just that. Perhaps soul or inner being would be more correct?

Along with the stream that feeds the pond, there is also the otaki, waterfall. 

The feeling at this pond does bring into mind one's inner self. Reflective and calm. 

One of the stone bridges that pass over parts of the pond. 

 There are a number of tōrōs, stone lanterns, on the property.

Along with a moss garden that gives a lovely view of the house. 

Not all of the sakura trees were in bloom yet. 

Around the garden were a number of structures like this gate. 

Another feature of the garden is this marvelous karetaki, dry waterfall and stream. It really looked like a little gorge carved by the passing water. 

 One of the denizens of garden, getting a little spring sun.

 Looking down at the chashitsu, tea house.

Near the end of the day for my visit to Kyu Furukawa Gardens. A place I hope to visit again some day.