Park

Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens

Tokyo, Japan

Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens near Tokyo

At Koishikawa Korakuen, the stone Full Moon Bridge turns a Chinese landscape idea into a precise visual effect. Its curved arch and reflection meet as a circle, linking a small garden view to a wider cultural exchange.

Guide preview

When the water is still, the bridge’s curve and its reflection complete a circle. That visual trick is the Engetsu-kyo, or Full Moon Bridge, one of the clearest signs of Chinese influence in Koishikawa Korakuen.

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Quick facts

  • The garden opened to the public in 1938.
  • Its name draws on a passage from the Chinese Memorial to Yueyang Tower.
  • The landscape includes a representation of China’s West Lake.

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