The glorious Golden Pavilion near Kyoto is one of the most recognizable Japanese sites.  Originally built in 1397 as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, Kinkaku-ji was later converted to a Zen temple on the grounds of Rokuon-ji.  The pavilion takes its n...

Kyoto’s Nijō Castle was built as the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa Shoguns and was completed in 1625.  Nijō Castle has two concentric rings of fortifications, each consisting of a wall and a wide moat.  Between the two main rings of fortifications lies the enchanting...

Two famous karesansui gardens featured on the Beauty of Japan Tour include the gardens at Ryoan-ji and Ginkaku-ji Temples.  Ryoan-ji may well be the earliest garden built specifically for contemplation and is certainly a masterpiece of karesansui.   The small rectangul...

Perhaps the most recognizable Japanese garden style to Westerners is the dry landscape garden or karesansui, what we commonly call a Zen garden.  The religious association is accurate, as this garden style arose during the Medieval Period between the 12th and 15th Cen...

The park and gardens of Shinjuku were first designed for use by royalty, but opened to the public in 1949.  The expansive grounds contain over 20,000 trees which are a riot of color in autumn. 

The formal gardens are of three distinct styles: an English Landscape...