{"id":74919,"date":"2021-02-03T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-03T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=74919"},"modified":"2021-02-02T09:24:55","modified_gmt":"2021-02-02T00:24:55","slug":"autumn-near-kyoto-keihanna-suigetsu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/autumn-near-kyoto-keihanna-suigetsu\/","title":{"rendered":"Enjoy the Autumn Colors Outside of Kyoto City"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Just outside the crowds of Kyoto city is a world of serene nature, vibrant culture, and deep history that you probably have never heard of before. Oita Prefecture, known mainly for its abundant onsen hot springs, is another area like Kyoto, rich in nature and history. We have carefully selected less crowded destinations in both of these fascinating areas of Japan and will cover them in a series of nine articles: “Travel like a Kyoto and Oita native to experience nature and traditional culture.”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One of the pleasures of being a Japan-based travel writer is realizing that no matter how much of Japan I think I’ve experienced, there is always something new and unexpected to surprise me. Recently, that surprise came in the form of Keihanna Commemorative Park, less than an hour outside of Kyoto city<\/strong> heading towards Nara Prefecture, which I visited during prime autumn colors<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keihanna Commemorative Park<\/strong>: Harmony of Science and Nature<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Autumn<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Keihanna is primarily known as a science and research area, home to research and development facilities of many Japanese companies, institutes, and universities. The park was created as both a balance and a complement to these facilities, providing a large open space for the community to use, and existing as a living example of science and nature co-existing in harmony<\/strong> with one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The park’s main attraction is Suikei-en (Japanese Garden)<\/span><\/strong>, with its spectacular fusion of human-made and natural landscapes. We were greeted at the gate by Muto-san, the man tasked with maintaining the balance of the park’s landscaping through all four seasons. Sitting down on a bench with a panoramic view of the garden, Muto-san offered my fellow writer, Don, and me some warm tea while he explained the philosophy behind the garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Staying<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Though the natural terrain of the area was beautiful in its own right, Muto-san explained that the garden was designed with structures that would enhance the beauty of what already existed for the pleasure of those who would visit it. For example, Nagatani Pond was connected with a lower elevation pond by creating a rock formation resembling the terraced rice fields found in Japan’s hilly regions. These rocks were not only beautiful to look at but provide visitors a way to interact with the natural beauty of the pond by allowing them to cross the pond over the rocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In another section of the garden, enormous granite stones were brought from a quarry on Inujima Island<\/a><\/strong>, famous for producing rocks used to build Japanese castles<\/strong> during the Edo Period. These stones were erected on end, standing 6 to 7 meters high and providing a dramatic backdrop to a maple forest ablaze in red autumn leaves and a cascading waterfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n