Momiji-yama Garden, Shizuoka

A tranquil, exquisitely beautiful traditional garden

Peter Sidell Nov 06, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>The waterfall in the trees at the rear of the garden</p>

<p>The teahouse is screened off from the rest of the garden</p>

<p>There isn't a point from which the garden isn't beautiful</p>

<p>The trees and bushes are carefully pruned every day (I expect)</p>

<p>The miniature Mount Fuji and its tea bushes</p>

Inside Sunpu Park in the heart of Shizuoka City, Momiji-yama Garden is a compact but exquisitely landscaped traditional stroll garden. Laid out around a large ornamental carp pond, it features a miniature Mount Fuji overlooking tiered bushes that resemble a tea plantation, a forest waterfall, and a teahouse where for a few hundred yen you can enjoy tea and sweets.

Open from 9:00am to 4:30pm on Tuesday to Sunday, entrance costs just ¥150: it's a cheap price to pay to enter such an oasis of calm, where you can escape the bustle of the city and rest your feet, mind and heart.

Peter Sidell @peter.sidell

I came to Japan from Manchester, England in 2003, and have travelled a lot since then, around Japan and in Asia. When I'm not working, I write satire and perform stand-up comedy in and around Tokyo. Check YouTube for a taste.