POND

Rikyu Garden is spread over 43,000 square meters, winding its way around an enchanting little pond with goldfish, ducks and other splendid birds. Originally a saltwater pond, it was later converted to freshwater. Swimming is not allowed, even though at one corner you can see a sandy beach called Suhama!

As in all Japanese gardens, the design is a miniature reproduction of natural landscapes. The numerous plants, including Japanese black pine, camphor trees, rhododendron, iris and wisteria, accompany you along a marvelous path up to the highest point of the garden, Oyama Hill, from which the Karetaki waterfall flows. The wisteria trellis in the picnic area makes for an incredibly beautiful spectacle when the flowers bloom in early May.

Once you’ve walked around the pond, there are two bridges you can take across to the larger island, where you’ll find a splendid tea room and a rocky landscape reminiscent of the mountains of West Lake in Hangzhou, which provided the inspiration for the pond.