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.

Looking up at Tsukimiyagura Turret

The view north – Seto Inland Sea

Some of the park’s pines

The view south from Tsukimiyagura Turret

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

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

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

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.

Lantern in Naienoniwa Garden

Sago palms

Fence

Black pine

More pines

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.