Day 15 Kanazawa

Kenrokuen Garden has been designated as a cultural property and national site of special scenic beauty. As we arrive there is a light rain making the experience, for me, even more special. I LOVE gardens in the rain! We have been here a couple of times but today we will spend time exploring not only the gardens but also the Seison-kaku (samurai style home) built by Maeda Nariyasu, the 13th lord of the Kaga clan, for his mother Shinryu-in to live. The Seison-kaku is distinguished for its unparalleled refinement and elegance. Several national treasures remain in the home and we are able to view them easily. Shinryu-in is a cultural asset and it is an honor to be able to walk within the ekken-jodan-no-ma (audience chamber) with its’ refined touch of shoin style, the Ayu-no-roka Corridor with the ceiling covered with paper from the palace and shoji screen with Ayu (sweetfish) painted on them, the Kame-no-ma (tortoise chamber) is a bedroom with shoji painted with tortoise and the Tsukushi-no-roka with its unobstructed view of the garden. The last major room is the Cho-no-ma (butterfly chamber) used as a living room of sorts. Butterflies adorn the shoji panels and ceiling, the tokonoma and the iri shoin (built in reading desk) have butterflies carved in the camphor wood which is rarely found in the region.  After enjoying a very detailed guided tour we must say goodbye as we stroll more of the Kenrokuen garden on our way to the Shiguretei Tea House. Here we enjoy the private tea garden and a bowl of matcha then suddenly we notice rain has stopped and it is time to leave this beauty peaceful place.