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Yamagata Aritomo. (Courtesy National Diet Library)
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“Bashō's Hermitage on Camellia Hill Beside the Aqueduct at Sekiguchi” by Utagawa Hiroshige. The spot near Hotel Chinzansō Tokyo, called Sekiguchi Bashō-an, still exists today. (Courtesy National Diet Library)
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A view of the hotel and cherry trees in bloom along the Kanda River, seen in the opposite direction from Hiroshige’s woodblock print.
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The Chinzansō monument, inscribed with writings by Yamagata, is evidence of his great fondness for the place.
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Camellias in bloom in the garden at Hotel Chinzansō Tokyo.
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The Yūsuichi Pond has been the centerpiece of the garden since Yamagata’s time.
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The view from the hotel’s rooftop Serenity Garden overlooks a true urban oasis.
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Okayasu Akira, posing in front of a sacred tree more than 500 years old that escaped the ravages of war.
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The Entsūkaku pagoda, flanked by sakura in bloom, is one of the foremost garden features at Chinzansō.
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The Vent Vert wedding chapel in the garden, with the hotel in the background. The garden is a favorite setting for taking wedding photos, creating a joyous atmosphere visitors can share in.
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The tasteful gate to the ryōtei. The bamboo fence along the path, the work of Okayasu and his staff, never fails to charm visitors from abroad.
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The Gojōtaki waterfall courses over moss-covered rocks. A glass-enclosed corridor behind the waterfall is a popular spot for viewing the garden through the fall’s spray.
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A stone figure of Daikokuten, one of the Seven Lucky Gods, associated with wealth and prosperity. Figures of the other lucky gods dot the paths, and many people make a hobby of photographing them.
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The sight of fireflies with the red Benkei Bridge in the background creates a magical effect. (Photo courtesy of Chinzansō)
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Picture windows in the lobby and lounge of the hotel’s banquet wing frame a fine view of the garden.
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