Japanese Garden of Jofukuji Temple

National Scenic Beauty once loved by the lords of Fukui

Takako Sakamoto Aug 29, 2015 - 2 min read

<p>Beautiful Japanese lute (Biwa) displayed in a room which once received the lords of Fukui Matsudaira Clan</p>

<p>Prayer stones laid out in the moss garden. Lords of Fukui Matsudaira Clan used to step on these stones to reach the main stone which represents the principal image of this temple, and offer prayers in front of it.</p>

<p>This garden borrows scenery from Hino mountain range. Due to the spring haze, I couldn't see the mountains on the day of my visit.</p>

<p>The picture on the tatami mat in the center was taken when the current head of Fukui Matsudaira Clan visited this temple.</p>

<p>Can you see the main stone (Honzon Ishi) set in the back of the garden? This garden was so designed that the alcove posts in the room, prayer stones and the main stone in the garden are set in the straight line.</p>

<p>The close-up look at the Mount Hino seen from the garden. Before the spring public viewing, the trees will be cut and manicured to allow the clearer mountain view.</p>

<p>The view of the reception room. In Edo Period, the successive lords of Fukui Matsudaira Clan visited this temple and enjoyed the garden view seen from this room.</p>

<p>Although this room seems intimidating, I was allowed to touch displayed artifacts and take pictures of them freely.</p>

<p>Aristocrats of the Heian Period were drawn on a screen door</p>

When I visited Ajimano-en Park back in March this year, I stumbled across Jofukuji Temple, which turned out to be the family temple of Taira Clan. The phrase, "Family Temple of Taira Clan" intrigued me, but what aroused my curiosity more was the fact that the garden inside this temple was designated as a National Scenic Beauty of Japan. There was no one in sight when I visited, which made me almost give up seeing the garden. However I banged on the door anyway before leaving the temple. An old man answered my door-banging and said, "It's not ready for the public viewing yet", nevertheless kindly showed me the garden. This garden is a dry landscape garden which borrows the scenery from the nearby mountain range and was designed in mid Edo Period. The historical lords of Fukui Matsudaira Clan loved this garden and visited it annually. Beside the garden, the reception room of these lords is preserved. Although mosses in the garden were still dry and waiting to be manicured, I was able to monopolize the garden and rooms to myself, thus enjoyed them very much. I'm sure that the garden will look fresh and green in May to June. Even if you can't find anybody on the temple grounds when you visit, bang the door for a try, then you will perhaps be ushered into the garden. If you are lucky, you may even be able to see the descendant of Taira Clan!

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...