Shiga

Yomei-en Chinese Garden

A symbol of friendship in Adogawa

Cathy Cawood Oct 15, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>A bridge spans the pond near the pagoda</p>

<p>Magnificent dragons undulate along the top of the wall  </p>

<p>The pretty red pagoda rests on rocky pillars in the pond</p>

<p>Beautiful color combinations decorate the ceiling of the pagoda</p>

<p>The pond and pagoda viewed through a vase-shaped window in the wall</p>

<p>Every wall window is different, and all of them are beautiful</p>

<p>A red Chinese trumpet vine blooms on an island in the pond</p>

<p>Koi, some of them quite large, lurk in the green water</p>

<p>The garden is crammed with fantastically shaped rocks</p>

<p>Two dragons meet above a circular gate</p>

Shiga Prefecture is full of surprises. On one of my cycling explorations of Takashima, I turned a corner near a vast new shopping mall, and a little way down the road I discovered a beautiful red pagoda standing in a pond surrounded by white walls topped with magnificent undulating dragons. This exquisite Chinese style garden was created as a symbol of friendship between the Chinese city of Yuyao and the town of Adogawa (now part of Takashima City.) In Japan it really pays to leave the main roads and explore!

Cathy Cawood @cathy.cawood

I came to Japan in 2003 to teach English. I lived in Shiga prefecture for 1 year, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I lived in Kyoto for 9 years, then moved to Machida, Tokyo in 2014 after meeting my Japanese partner. I love to take photos, and my Japan in Pictures Facebook page ha...