Karesansui - 1 (Japanese Rock Garden) 枯れ山水 Negoro-Ji

In the blinding heat
I find a cool refuge
Watching dancing water

目の熱
涼しいで逃げ込む
踊り水を見る

This will be the first of many posts strictｌy on Kare-sansui. I can't count how many I have visited in Japan. I intend on visiting many more. I find great appeal in their complex simplicity.

This garden is at Negoro-Ji. It is by far my favorite rock Garden. I'll have a later post on Negoro-Ji itself later. Negoro Ji had a fantastic blend of meticulous stone designs, walking stones, trees, buildings, water, and the surroundings. It was the opposite of Kinkaku-ji. There was an immediate appeal and calm at the garden.

There were no barriers to keep visitors from walking out onto the stepping stones in the garden. But one wouldn't dare. I can't imagine the meticulous work that goes into this garden. I suppose part of the appeal of Kare-sansui is knowing I'll never have to patience to make one....

-I wrote this poem at Nishinomiya Garden in Spokane. Nishinomiya Garden, (Now named the Ed Tsutakawa Garden) is one of the best American Japanese gardens I have been to. Unlike Portland, Seattle, San Fransisco, or Brooklyn, Nishinomiya is a compact and well cared for garden. It lacks a rock garden, but has a great pond, waterfall, and treed area. Nishinomiya has a Japanese feel that other gardens lack. I think a lot of the authenticity can be attributed to its use of space and natural appeal. One can walk the entire grounds in about 5 minutes. Yet, even after years worth of visits I still haven't 'seen' the whole thing.

Spokane is a desert climate very unlike Japan. Nishinomiya uses a combination of Japanese imports and native trees. Often times visits to Nishinomiya are during days with temperatures well over 100F.

Come visit, I'll give you a tour! -tours start at $500......

Nishinomiya City Japan is Spokane's sister city. I've been there and enjoyed it. It is the home of the Hanshin Tigers. The Nishinomiya Sister City Society provides cultural exchanges between the two cities, including teachers, government officials, and business persons. Check out their website here. The Society also sponsors Spokane's Japan Week, a busy week of cultural exchanges, dances, martial art demo's, art displays, doll displays, and more.


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