A visit to Mito's Kairakuen -- one of the three great gardens of Japan (Photo-essay)

On the seventh day of my recent Japan trip, I continued taking advantage of the excellent value JR East Nagano-Niigata Area Pass by embarking on a day trip to Mito.  Food-wise, the capital city of Ibaraki prefecture is known for natto (the fermented soybeans that many foreigners find repulsive), chestnuts (like at Obuse) and plums (which supplied the flavor for the serving of soft serve ice cream I had while there!).  But while I like all those things just fine, Mito's main attraction for me really was its Kairakuen; and not just because I figured that taking in some fresh air in beautiful green surroundings might be a good thing to do after my epic evening at Sasagin!

Constructed in 1842 on the orders of Tokugawa Nariaki, the then lord of the ruling Mito domain, Kairakuen is considered to be one of the three great gardens of Japan along with Kanazawa's Kenrokuen and Okayama's Korakuen.  If truth be told: I wouldn't rank Mito's Kairakuen among the top three most beautiful gardens I've visited in Japan; with Takamatsu's Ritsurin Koen and Yokohama's Sankeien as well as the Kenrokuen and Korakuen having blown me away more aesthetically. 

But, then, I didn't visit in early spring, when the flowers of all 100 different types of plum trees grown at Kairakuen are in bloom.  And any time of the year, this 13-hectare attraction has few -- if any -- equals in terms of its sheer size.  Also, I do love that, unlike most of the other famous -- and even less famous -- gardens in Japan, there's no admission charge for what's still a pretty pleasant as well as spacious place to stroll around and take in some enjoyably scenic views out of season...

Near the Kairakuen's Higashimon (East Gate) lies 

Tokiwa Jinja, a Shinto shrine dedicated to 

two Mito feudal lords, including Kairakuen's founder

 The view from the area of the Kairakuen accurately marked 

on the map as "Grounds with a nice view" ;b

Within the Kairakuen can be found a reconstructed -- 

but historically rich -- three-storey wooden building known as 
the Kobuntei (which does charge a small entrance fee)

An appreciative Puppet Ponyo would like it to be known that 

the original structure was built at the same time as 

Kairakuen's inception and served as an aristocratic villa

Completely burnt down as a result of an aerial attack

at the tail end of the Second World War, it was rebuilt

years later and looks glorious now

Within the vast expanse that's the Kairakuen

is an aesthetically impressive bamboo grove

 A pair of interesting looking birds hop about
in the shade of some of Kairakuen's many plum trees

 The Kairakuen may not be a traditional Japanese stroll garden

but it's still really pleasant to wander around nonetheless! :)