Verdant Shougenji Temple in May

Beautiful Japanese garden revived by fresh green

Takako Sakamoto May 12, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>Temple roof with red and green leaves in sunlight</p>

<p>Pine tree in the Japanese garden with green temple roof in the bright sunshine</p>

<p>Red leaves made radiant by the sun contrast with shadowed leaves</p>

<p>Japanese garden of Shougenji Temple under the blue sky of May</p>

<p>Belfry surrounded by fresh red and green leaves</p>

<p>The main hall of Shougenji Temple seen through the Japanese garden</p>

<p>Fresh verdure of the Japanese garden</p>

<p>Purple irises blooming beside the pond</p>

<p>Cut stems of dead lotus flowers in the pond. Seeing this sight, it's hard to imagine they will bloom in two months!</p>

<p>Shriveled wisteria flowers on the trellis. I came too late!</p>

<p>Purple irises and fresh green leaves with temple buildings in the background</p>

<p>Lone white azalea blooming in the dark corner</p>

<p>Brilliant red maple leaves in mid May</p>

<p>Radiant green leaves seen through the wooden gate of the temple</p>

<p>Sensuous Shiran (purple orchid) in the bright sunshine</p>

<p>White azaleas in the sun with blurry shadow of trees under the blue sky</p>

Shougenji Temple in Fukui has a beautiful Japanese garden. Although small, it delighted my eyes when I visited it last autumn and winter. At the last visit, I noticed that there is a wisteria trellis inside the garden, and I promised myself to come back again to see the fully blooming wisteria in May. However, I visited it too late...they were already shriveled under the hot sun. Instead, I found brilliant green leaves and other flowers, azaleas, irises and purple orchids. The garden also has a lotus pond, which will be beautiful in July. I guessed it right, this garden is beautiful throughout the year!

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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...