Many of the gardens of the Japanese castles were made to include a pond, but since the location was dictated by military reasons, in many cases the pond was built artificially. So the pond was designed together with the garden, but was dug later and filled with water from a nearby lake or river, or even with ocean salt water (like the Shinagawa Kumin from Tokyo).

One of the most beautiful artificially built ponds is the pond of Genkyu-en from Hikone, filled with water from the Lake Biwa. The pond was carefully designed with islands, promontories and a unique combination of shores and carefully selected rocks, all adding to the general harmony…

Genkyu-en Garden, Hikone

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Kinmokaku gate: the Sen no Rikyu incindent, tea ceremony and seppuku