URL:   http://www.ryokka.jibasan.or.jp/kokoen/index_en.html  Name: Koko-en  Koko-en, Himeji Photo: Albert Jeans   Alternate Name: Himeji-jo, Himeji Castle, Kokoen, Nishi-Oyasiki-Ato  Address: 68 Honmachi  Mailing Address:   City: Himeji  State: Hyogo-ken  Postal Code: 670-0012  Country: JAPAN  Latitude/Longitude: lat=34.8333; long=134.6667 Find Gardens Nearby Phone: +81.(0)792.89.42120  Fax:   E-Mail:   Contact:   Designer(s):   Contruction Date: 1992  Public/Private: PUBLIC  Hours: 9:00-17:00 (enter by 16:30 ; Jan.-May/Sep.-Dec.) 9:00-18:00 (enter by 17:30 ; Jul.-Aug.) Closed, Dec. 29 through Jan. 1  Admission: Adults: 300 yen; children 150 yen; special group rates available  Added to JGarden: 1/21/2004  Last Updated: 1/21/2004  Sources: Albert Jeans, http://home.earthlink.net/~ajeans2  JGarden Description: Koko-en was constructed to commemorate Himeji City's 100th anniversary. The garden was built on the land allotments of the Edo Period discovered during archaelogical excavations. The name 'Koko-en' is derived from 'Koko do' the name of Japan's sixth provincial school founded in 1692 in Himeji by the last Lord of Himeji, Lord Sakai. The garden includes the Oyashiki-no-niwa (lit. 'Garden of the Feudal Load's Residence'), the 'Cha-no-niwa' (Tea Garden) and seven other gardens as well as a decent restaurant too. If you're going to Himeji Castle, you should certainly visit these gardens as well. The garden is located next to Himeji Castle, just a short walk (15 min) from the Shinkansen station in Himeji or a 5 min bus ride to the Koko-en bus stop. Himeji is a city of 460,000, located in southwestern Hyogo Prefecture. It is most famous for its castle, a national treasure that was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993. Himeji became a sister city of Phoenix in 1976, when an agreement was formally signed by the mayors of both cities in Phoenix.

Not yet having become a Buddha, This ancient pine-tree, Idly dreaming.   Issa   trans. by R.H. Blyth