TL;DR – My plans get a change-up at Suizenji Park.

Disclosure – I paid for my flights, accommodation, entry, and everything you see purchased in this article.

Exploring Japan –

I had always planned to go back to Japan one day, and had started making plans to go back in 2020. Then, well, 2020 happened. But late last year, I finally had the chance to put those plans back in motion as I flew out of Melbourne for Osaka, and thus my time in Japan began.

Today was the day that my hubris finally reached an impasse I could not breach. One of my main goals on this trip was to take a day trip to Nagasaki, and after some moving around in my timetable, today was meant to be the day to do it. However, I had woefully underestimated the travel time to the city from Kumamoto; also, for the first time on my trip, all the trains were booked out. So, I had a choice: wallow in my failure, okay, I did that for a while, or find out somewhere else to explore, and I eventually chose the latter. This involved taking another tram deep into the east of the city.  

Wow, would you look at that? I found him.

On the approach to the gardens, we were greeted by Kumamon, the mascot of the Kumamoto prefecture. It is frankly adorable, and you see them across the city. People really like Kumamon, and it shows.  

While the approach to the garden is filled with shops, the actual entrance is quite circumspect, hiding the grandeur that awaits behind the torii gate.

The first thing that greets you as you enter is this magnificent lake that sits at the heart of the garden, and which all the pathways route around or radiate away from.

All throughout the park are these stunning trees that help bring some much-needed shade, while also giving texture to the light and sound of the wind. I honestly spent a good half an hour sitting under one of these trees watching the lake.

Everywhere you look, there is something new to grab your eye: the ripples of reflections of grassy hills, the ornamental trees, and perfectly manicured grasses.

My understanding is that the park, or Suizen-ji Jōju-en, as it is known more formally, is meant to be a miniature representation of the old pilgrimage path from Tokyo to Kyoto, with miniature Mt. Fuji to go with it. Now, I have no way of knowing how well a job they did in that recreation other than by going by vibes, and the vibes are good.

You can honestly feel the care and devotion that has gone into each and every plant that resides in the garden. A testament to all the work the caretakers put into it.

There are all of these hidden gems that you find while exploring the garden, creating layers to your experience, as you wonder what else will be around the next corner.

Indeed, towards the end of my time in the gardens, even the clouds themselves decided to get in on the action and make it a spectacular vista for all to see.

Later that night, I spotted an Indian restaurant, and the food smelled so nice that I had to give it a try for dinner, and it was worth it. Also, I didn’t spill any curry on my white shirt, so that was a nice change.