The Uchihashi-tei Pavilion and Kasumigaike Pond in the Kenrokuen Garden (Kanazawa-city)

The Kenrokuen Garden is a representative "Chisen-Kaiyu-shiki" Daymyo garden of the Edo period. This large garden originated from the Daimyo Garden built by the Kaga clan on the outskirts of Kanazawa Castle in the mid-17th century.

It is one of the three most famous Daimyo gardens in Japan, along with the Korakuen Garden in Okayama City and the Kairakuen Garden in Mito City.

In such a garden, ponds, various garden stones, plants and trees are aesthetically placed to create a view that allows viewers to quietly enjoy Kacho-hugetsu (the beauties and wonders of nature) in every season and the peaceful heaven on earth.

Many landscaping techniques are used to express how water flows from deep mountains into a large stream, how stones are arranged to form symbolic auspicious figures, or how a garden looks like Mount Penglai (the enchanted island of eternal youth in Chinese mythology).

"Kenrokuen" was named in 1822 by Matsudaira Sadanobu, then lord of the Shirakawa domain, at the request of Maeda Narihiro, the 12th lord of the Kaga domain.

The name Kenrokuen, which means garden of six virtues, is quoted from the "Records of Luoyang Famous Gardens" written by the Sung dynasty poet "Li Guei-nui". 

In this work, this poet describes the excellent gardens in Luoyang in China as those that combine the six admirable elements, namely elegance/splendour, modesty/silence, fine workmanship, authenticity/classicism, ponds/fountains and magnificent views.