Sankei-en Garden was built by Zenzaburo Hara, a superrich businessman who made a fortune in silk trade at the beginning of the 20th century. It took about 30 years to the completion, but the garden was heavily destroyed in the air raids during the Second World War. After the war, the right of ownership was transferred to a corporate body. Making the most of ups and downs of the gentle hill, the garden is dotted with 17 old elegant wooden buildings, 12 of which are designated as important cultural properties. They were relocated here from all over the country. Thanks to this effort, Yokohama can enjoy historical environment of the feudal years even though it’s a young city. The first photo shows the villa of Tokugawa’s branch family in Wakayama which was originally built in Wakayama Prefecture in 1649. The second one is the Buddha Hall of Tokei-ji nunnery in Kamakura originally built in 1643. Both are important cultural properties. Some criticized the relocation of these valuable buildings, but many of which were neglected without adequate maintenance. Therefore, positive opinions dominate from the viewpoint of cultural assets preservation.
Licensed tour guide travel consultant,
Masahisa Takaki.
全国通訳案内士 高木聖久。
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