Name: Jôrakuen  Jorakuen Photo: Lynn Perry   Alternate Name: Jorakuen  Kanji:   Address:   Mailing Address:   City: Fukushima-shi  State: Fukushima-ken  Postal Code:   Country: JAPAN  Latitude/Longitude: lat=37.75; long=140.48333 Find Gardens Nearby Phone: +81.(0)24.591.1304  Fax:   E-Mail:   Contact:   Designer(s):   Construction Period: -   Public/Private: PUBLIC  Hours: Closed December 1 - March 19.  Admission: Adults: 400 yen; Children: 200 yen  Added to JGarden: 5/7/2000  Last Updated: 1/19/2003  JGarden Description: This 25,000 sq meter garden is one of Fukushima's most beautiful and took 25 years to construct. Jorakuen is a composition of trees, water and stone set against the Azuma mountains. The entrance is a tree-enclosed path, but the garden opens up to is full expanse after the first bend. A large pond dominates the center of the garden with pines, stone and small islands highlighting it. An azumaya and a tea house are also located around the edge. Seasonal interest is provided by rhododendrons (shakunage), butterbur (yamafuki), a wisteria trellis (fujidana) and a beautiful lotus marsh (hasunuma). Parking: 50 cars Access----From JR Tohoku Line/Shinkansen Fukushima Station, bus to Fujimi restaurant stop then 15 minute walk. Follow Route 115 from Fukushima toward Aizu and watch for the sign. Is also accessible from the Fukushima-Nishi interchange of the Tohoku Expressway.

Since before anyone remembers It has been clear Shining like silver Though the moonlight penetrates it and the wind ruffles it No trace of either remains. Today I would not dare to expound the secret of the stream bed But I can tell you That the blue dragon is coiled there.   Muso Soseki   trans. by W.S. Merwin and Soiku Shigematsu   14th century