I think this place is best visited in spring or autumn, when the colors of the leaves, flowers, and grass truly come alive—it’s a beautiful sight that will amaze you. The stream running through the garden is peaceful, cold, and refreshing.
Make sure to bring an empty water bottle so you can fill it with fresh water from the 'Katsura' water source. If you forget, you can buy empty bottles or 2L plastic water bags at the shop before entering the garden.
When I visited in mid-April, many trees had recently been chopped down, so parts of the area looked a bit messy and bare. There was still some snow left, but only in the upper parts of the garden.
If you plan to walk off the main path, I recommend wearing shoes with good grip, as the ground can be slippery with dirt and dry or wet leaves.
Dogs are allowed, and there’s a café, a souvenir shop, and toilets available on-site. There’s also plenty of parking space.
It's at an altitude of about 666 meters. In the summer, it's really cool and there's a nice breeze. Spending time relaxing on a bench in the shade of the forest trees is wonderful.
The lunch boxes available for purchase inside the building are made with local ingredients and were very delicious.
I went near closing time during Golden Week, so the staff asked me if I was okay, and I couldn't stroll around leisurely. I only had an hour, so I rushed through, and I couldn't find any flowers in bloom properly. I did manage to get some cold water to drink, though. I didn't know about the large Katsura tree at Waike, and I was disappointed that I missed it when I realized it after I left. As I live deep in the mountains, the scenery in the mountains felt familiar to me.
I came here looking forward to comparing 61 different cuts of Tajima beef 🙏 And it's also my first time dining in the Tree House 🎄 so I'm excited and my spirits are high ↗️ 👍 After a while the meat arrived. I thought about which one to grill and eat first, and savored each bite 😋 Each piece of meat was small, but there were so many different kinds that I ended up completely full 🫄 😘 I counted 62 different kinds, one more than I expected ⁉️ It took me 3 hours to finally finish it all 🙂↕️ But I'm satisfied 😊
The magnificent Katsura tree at Waike Pond is truly impressive!
It's our family's go-to spot for relaxation, which we visit every year.
In spring, many beautiful flowers bloom; in summer, it's a cool retreat; in autumn, the leaves change color; and in winter, the fantastical scenery soothes us.
We enjoy the scenery of each season♪
The spring water is smooth and mild, with no unpleasant taste, and it's cold and delicious (^^)
I'd love to experience walking there in winter snowshoes again (^^)
P.S.
The path has been improved and is now easier to walk on♪ Thank you as always for the healing power 😊
