NaraExplorer
Up-to-date and essential English tourist information about Nara for international visitors
Nara Explorer is Nara's first and only English tourist magazine.
Our inaugual first issue will be published in June.
For further information,click here.
The Seasonal Beauty of Japanese Gardens
What’s on in Nara this month?
- Isui-en Garden
- the Isui-en Garden is a wonderful Meiji period (1868-1912) garden with a meandering stream past grand stone lanterns, traditional tea houses and exquisite greenery. Tea ceremony and/or Japanese kaiseki lunch can be arranged through advance reservation. The Neiraku Museum, located directly next to the garden, houses a collection of over 2,000 art objects from ancient China, Korea, and Japan; open: 9:30-16:00; closed Tues.; 650 yen; Tel: 0742-25-0781.
- Kasuga Shrine Shin-en Garden
- All 300 species in the garden are collected here on the basis of their mention in Japan’s oldest poetry collection (The Manyo-shu), written by various members of the nobility in the Nara period (8th century). In addition to its ponds and vermilion bridges, the garden also has a wonderful outdoor tearoom; open: 8:30-16:30; closed on Mon. in July and Aug.; 525 yen; Tel: 0742-22-7788.
- Yoshiki-en Garden
- Yoshiki-en Garden is located south of Isui-en Garden. The designer skillfully utilized natural landscapes and curves to achieve a beautiful combination of artifice and nature. There is a tea ceremony room where open-air tea ceremonies are often held; open: 9:00-17:00; 250 yen; Tel: 0742-22-5911.
- Heijokyo To-in Garden
- In the late 8th century, there was a garden where the Imperial family and nobles held parties and ceremonies. The garden was reproduced on the site of the Heijo-kyo capital in 1998 based on extensive historical research on the classic Nara-period style garden; open: 9:00-16:30; closed Mon.; free of charge; Tel: 0742-30-6752.
