金沢兼六園

Kanazawa's Kenrokuen is one of three gardens in Japan that are considered to be the best examples of traditional Japanese garden aesethics. The other two are 偕楽園 (kai-raku-en) and 後楽園 (kou-raku-en). Kenroku refers to the six attributes that define a garden at its aeshetic perfection, or: spaciousness 宏大 (kou-dai); tranquility or seclusion 幽邃 (yuu-sui); artificiality 人力 (jin-ryoku); antiquity 蒼古 (sou-ko); water springs 水泉 (sui-sen); and, panoramas 眺望 (chou-bou). Some of the best gardens open a few or even many of these attributes, but rarely does a garden achieve all six; and yet, Kenroku-en does just this. I spent nearly every week within Kanazawa both years that I lived in the city. There are even early morning and late evening sojourns within the garden while it was closed to sit on a bench and watch the city slumber. As arrogant and self-appropriating as it is, I came to view it as my garden while I lived in Kanazawa. And to this day I still from time to time will be reminded on it with a sound or a smell or a sight. I do not think I will ever tire of these memories.