Chiba Prefecture Charms - Manyo Spots

The Kanto region has many lovely traditional gardens. You'll find 日本庭園, nihon teien, surrounding pavilions and tea houses in municipal and prefectural parks. One favourite is the strolling garden surrounding Shohakutei, the tea house in Kashiwa no Ha Park.

However, there is another variety of garden. Manyo botanical gardens cultivate the 160 species of plants mentioned in the Manyoshu poetry anthology. This 8th-century collection comprises 4,500 waka poems, filled with references to grasses, flowers, and trees. There are a handful of these gardens in the Kanto region. Chiba Prefecture has some spots. On a visit to Shiroyama Park in Tateyama City, you can walk 万葉の径 Manyo no Wataru, a path dotted with poems and their accompanying plants.

Most recently, I strolled through Ichikawa City's municipal Manyo Botanical Garden. The garden perched on a bluff is an oasis of calm. I enjoyed leisurely reading the plaques displaying poems. The plaques indicate the Japanese and Latin names of each plant. I get inspired to read more and appreciate the native natural beauty.

A bit out of the way is Sodegaura City's Manyo Botanical Garden in the city's park. 

Does your region have a Manyo garden? Are you interested in waka poetry?