Illuminated Yokokan Garden in Fukui

Simple beauty of lit-up trees mirrored on a pond

Takako Sakamoto Mar 20, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>Symmetrical reflection on the pond</p>

<p>Illuminated Yokokan house in the dark</p>

<p>A stone lantern, bridge, trees...everything was reflected on a mirror-like pond surface!</p>

<p>Wide view of the garden and the pond</p>

<p>"My dream"...what did this elementary school student want to convey? The brownish thing looks like a tree...?</p>

<p>Pine trees with snow protection reaching for the night sky</p>

<p>Every path in the garden was lit by these dim lanterns</p>

<p>Dimly lit rooms in the Yokokan house reflected on the pond surface</p>

<p>Looking at Yokokan house from the opposite side of the pond</p>

When I visited the night-time illumination event held at Yokokan Garden, I was surprised by its tranquil beauty. Usually, when you visit these events, you are overwhelmed by brilliant lights. But here at Yokokan, everything was subdued and classic, yet beautiful in its simplicity. Trees, stone lanterns and other things in the garden were mirrored clearly on the pond. With all its beauty, the whole place was almost silent, despite the presence of many spectators. The only thing I heard was the gentle sound of the erhu being played in a room facing the pond, and the soft murmurs of people admiring the tranquil beauty of the garden.

Illuminated Yokokan Garden Series 1. Magical Night at Yokokan In Fukui 2. Illuminated Yokokan Garden in Fukui 3. Plum Trees in Limelight at Yokokan

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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...