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Tamamo Park

November 30, 2012 by Jonas Dupuich

The 2011 Asia Pacific Bonsai and Suiseki Convention and Exhibition was held in Takamatsu, Kagawa, on Shikoku. Takamatsu is a nice tourist destination. It’s on the Seto Inland Sea and is close to some of the larger bonsai growing grounds in Japan. At night, a giant maze of indoor pedestrian malls provides plenty of entertainment.

Just across from the hotel where the convention was held, one finds Tamamo Park, home to the remains of Takamatsu Castle. Construction of the castle, one of only three mizujiro, or “castles in the sea” in Japan, began in 1587. Since 1955 it’s been open as a public park and recognized as a national historic site (Park brochure).

The tallest structure in the park, Tsukimiyagura Turret, is a three story lookout built atop the wall along the moat at the park’s northeast corner.

Tsukimiyagura Turret

Looking up at Tsukimiyagura Turret

Inland Sea

The view north – Seto Inland Sea

Tamamo Park

Some of the park’s pines

View from Tsukimiyagura Turret

The view south from Tsukimiyagura Turret

Getting up and down from the top floor involved steep staircases supported by some creative wood joinery.

Wood joinery

Post extension

The park is well manicured – I just can’t imagine the effort required to keep so many large trees in such nice shape.

Tamamo Park

Symbol Tower and Clement Hotel rise behind Tamamo’s well-clipped trees and shrubs

The park’s main building is the Hiunkaku, built in 1917. Inside, several outstanding bonsai were on display, but no photos were allowed.

Hiunkaku

Hiunkaku

Just outside the Hiunkaku was the Naienoniwa Garden. It also dates to 1917, though the pines that abound in this part of the park were planted a bit later by the Emperor and Empress of the Showa Period.

Naienoniwa Garden

Lantern in Naienoniwa Garden

Sago palm

Sago palms

Fence

Fence

Pine

Black pine

Tamamo Park

More pines

Tamamo Park

Lantern

A number of small details gave the park its charm, from shady patches of moss to ferns eking out an existence along the eves of shingled roofs. It was, all in all, a very comfortable place to visit.

Moss

Pigeon trundling across the moss

Moss

More moss

Ferns growing on rooftop

Ferns

Pine bark

Pine bark – same color as the stone walls that surround the park

Old castle walls

Old castle wall

Moat

Walls and moat

Tamamo Park

Walking along the pines

✕

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Filed Under: Excursions Tagged With: Japan

Previous Post: « Oomurasan’s garden
Next Post: Chrysanthemums on display »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. bonsaiprelude says

    November 30, 2012 at 5:11 am

    Hey Jonas, loving the mini tour of Japan these past few weeks! Keep up the good work!

  2. Mac says

    November 30, 2012 at 6:31 am

    Thank you Jonas.

  3. Mark says

    December 8, 2012 at 8:18 pm

    Yeah, thanks Jonas. Very cool.

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