In Japan, the period of peace and prosperity during the Edo period led to the development of many arts, gardening being one of the most prominent. The level of sophistication was determined by the influence of the local lords, each of them desiring a unique garden.

Several ingenious ideas led to gardens of high artistic value, such as the pond in the shape of the “kokoro” kanji of the Tensha-en garden in Uwajima, the 53 post stations of the Tokaido reproduced in the Suizen-ji garden in Kumamoto, or, photographed here, the miniaturized replication of Hiroshige’s famous woodblock prints Eight Views of Ōmi at the Genkyu-en garden in Hikone.

Genkyu-en Garden, Hikone

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Traditional Japanese architecture, Kurumayose