
The first post in what I hope to be a series from my recent trip to Japan.
I hope for this series to be available as a guide to a few places to visit and a few things to do! (though it is very far from a complete list!)
First I would like to share with you my visit to the Kyoto Garden of Fine Arts, by the master of concrete, Tadao Ando.
Personally, Ando’s work has been an amazing influence, such refined works from a man who had previously worked as a truck driver, a boxer and had no formal training.
You will more often than not hear Ando recognised for his use of concrete, a work of fine craftsmanship.
The Garden of Fine Art situated North of Japan’s traditional capital Kyoto and not far from the Kyoto Prefectural Botanical Gardens, is an ‘open air gallery.’ Though perhaps the words ‘garden’ and even ‘gallery’ are open to interpretation?
The garden’s classical works have been recreated on large weatherproof ceramic plates in a modern concrete ‘garden.’
Though the real interest for me was held in the minimalist concrete walkways and walls rather than the works themselves.
The garden, completed in 1990 uses modern materials of concrete and glass yet holds traditional works of art, and also responds to the serenity of a traditional Japanese garden. Two concrete ramps intertwine their way down into the lower parts of the garden, taking the visitor on a journey through large concrete volumes that serve as separating the space, creating voids whilst also serving as a surface for the works themselves.
Another main feature of the garden is the horizontal and vertical walls and pools of water that flow from the top most level down through the garden whilst the constant sound of falling water serves as soft background ambience.


The Main Entrance (and you can just see Monet’s water lillies under the surface.)


Window looking outside the garden


There are many water features that run horizontally, vertically, horizontally again like a maze through the garden, and also add a gentle background noise when walking through.

An intersection of elements that span through the entire building. (and a hint of the works contained.)

And a Detail of the same intersection.

In, looking out, this shot also shows the looping path that winds its way down to the bottom of the open garden.

Another shot of the ramp continuing down, you can see the element that goes through the wall (top right, and center)

A shot of the different levels and voids.

Openings revealing the works on the wall behind them.


Abrupt intersection and viewing point.

And Looking back, a good demonstration of the shear volumes dividing the space.

Another shot of the horizontal water and the path. Also hints of the botanical gardens behind.


Some photos of the recreated works themselves.
Garden of Fine Arts (Kyoto Fruits Toban Meiga no Niwa)
Shimogamo Hangicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0823. Tel. 075-724-2188
Hrs. 9:00-17:00 (enter by 16:30). Closed Dec. 28- Jan 4.
100 yen (50 yen in case of combination ticket with Kyoto Botanical Garden)
The fastest way to get here from Kyoto Station or Hankyu Karasuma is to take the subway to Kitayama Station.









I just could not go away your site before suggesting that I really enjoyed the usual information an individual supply on your guests? Is gonna be again incessantly to inspect new posts.
I conceive you have mentioned some very interesting details , appreciate it for the post.
Here is a great Weblog You might Obtain Interesting that we Encourage You
Thank you, I’ve recently been searching for info about this topic for ages and yours is the best I’ve came upon till now. However, what concerning the conclusion? Are you certain concerning the source?
I have been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the net will be a lot more useful than ever before.
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some pics to drive the message home a little bit, but other than that, this is excellent blog. An excellent read. I will certainly be back.
You completed certain good points there. I did a search on the subject matter and found the majority of folks will have the same opinion with your blog.
Hi there, I discovered your site via Google whilst looking for a comparable topic, your web site came up, it seems great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
As I web site possessor I believe the content material here is rattling magnificent , appreciate it for your efforts. You should keep it up forever! Best of luck.
You really make it appear so easy together with your presentation but I find this topic to be really one thing that I think I’d by no means understand. It kind of feels too complex and very broad for me. I am looking forward in your subsequent submit, I will try to get the hold of it!
Great website. Plenty of useful information here. I’m sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thank you on your sweat!
Its good as your other content : D, thankyou for posting . “In the spider-web of facts, many a truth is strangled.” by Paul Eldridge.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!
You could definitely see your skills in the paintings you write. The arena hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to mention how they believe. All the time go after your heart.
Thank you, I have recently been looking for information approximately this subject for a long time and yours is the greatest I have came upon so far. However, what concerning the conclusion? Are you certain concerning the source?
excellent points altogether, you simply gained a new reader. What would you recommend in regards to your submit that you made some days ago? Any certain?
Usually I don’t learn article on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very pressured me to check out and do it! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, quite great article.
I have to point out my love for your generosity giving support to visitors who absolutely need help on this important area. Your special commitment to passing the message throughout came to be exceptionally productive and have surely helped others much like me to arrive at their goals. Your warm and friendly guide can mean much a person like me and further more to my fellow workers. Best wishes; from each one of us.
You can certainly see your skills within the work you write. The sector hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to mention how they believe. All the time go after your heart. “Until you’ve lost your reputation, you never realize what a burden it was.” by Margaret Mitchell.
I really enjoy reading on this web site , it contains good posts . “We find comfort among those who agree with us–growth among those who don’t.” by Frank A. Clark.
I must express my admiration for your generosity in support of men and women who really want guidance on this particular topic. Your real dedication to passing the message up and down appeared to be incredibly invaluable and has all the time enabled some individuals just like me to achieve their dreams. The useful report denotes so much a person like me and extremely more to my colleagues. Thank you; from each one of us.
check below, are some absolutely unrelated internet websites to ours, nonetheless, they are most trustworthy sources that we use
Hello my family member! I want to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include almost all important infos. I would like to see more posts like this .
I got what you mean , thankyou for posting .Woh I am happy to find this website through google. “Food is the most primitive form of comfort.” by Sheila Graham.
Hey! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the great work!
On the lookout for the perfect carpet cleaner?
Definitely believe that which you said. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the internet the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed while people consider worries that they plainly do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks
Today, I went to the beach with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but I had to tell someone!
You actually make it appear so easy along with your presentation however I in finding this matter to be actually one thing that I believe I’d by no means understand. It kind of feels too complex and very broad for me. I’m looking ahead in your subsequent post, I will try to get the dangle of it!
Great beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your web site, how could i subscribe for a blog website? The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear concept
Hi this is kinda of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding skills so I wanted to get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!
Hi, Neat post. There’s an issue along with your website in web explorer, may test this¡K IE nonetheless is the market leader and a huge component of people will leave out your magnificent writing due to this problem.
Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue along with your site in web explorer, could check this… IE nonetheless is the marketplace leader and a large component of folks will miss your great writing due to this problem.
Every when inside a whilst we pick out blogs that we study. Listed beneath are the most recent internet sites that we pick
please go to the internet sites we stick to, such as this 1, because it represents our picks from the web
Carpet cleansing using dry foam has quite a few benefits.
It’s the best time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you few interesting things or tips. Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article. I desire to read more things about it!
one of our visitors recently encouraged the following website
I think other web site proprietors should take this web site as an model, very clean and great user friendly style and design, as well as the content. You’re an expert in this topic!
Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research on this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such wonderful info being shared freely out there.
Good day! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my good old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
Outstanding post but I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit more. Thanks!
When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get three emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Bless you!
Hi there! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the superb work!
My husband and i felt quite peaceful that Louis could do his homework through your precious recommendations he gained when using the web pages. It is now and again perplexing just to find yourself giving away techniques that the rest have been making money from. We realize we now have the blog owner to thank because of that. The main explanations you have made, the simple website menu, the friendships your site give support to create – it’s got all remarkable, and it’s leading our son and the family reason why this subject matter is satisfying, and that is rather vital. Thank you for all!
Do you have a spam issue on this website; I also am a blogger, and I was wondering your situation; we have developed some nice practices and we are looking to swap methods with other folks, please shoot me an e-mail if interested.
I’m not sure why but this weblog is loading very slow for me. Is anyone else having this issue or is it a issue on my end? I’ll check back later on and see if the problem still exists.
Hello! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the outstanding work!
Hmm is anyone else encountering problems with the pictures on this blog loading? I’m trying to determine if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Great amazing issues here. I¡¦m very glad to see your post. Thanks a lot and i’m having a look ahead to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?