Estamos a mediados de septiembre lo cual significa, al menos en esta parte del mundo, que la primavera está cerca. Para felicidad de las almas sensibles (y para desgracia de los cuerpos alérgicos) hay brotes y pimpollos por todos los rincones de la ciudad.Pero si quieren vivir la primavera por anticipado dense una vuelta por el Jardín Japonés: todo está en flor y el pasto está perfectamente verde. Este último sábado al mediodía había varias decenas de visitantes extranjeros (me crucé con estadounidenses, brasileños, españoles, venezolanos y mexicanos) y también argentinos que deambulaban por los senderos disfrutando de un clima ideal y con la esperanza de llevarse algo de la nueva estación en cada foto que disparaban.
Caminar a la orilla del estanque y ver las carpas de colores (koi) sacando sus bocas fuera de la superficie por algo de alimento (y se ve que les da resultado porque están cada vez más crecidas) o sentarse a tomar algo en el quiosco y darse el tiempo para impregnarse de la atmósfera del lugar es toda una experiencia.
El lugar está poblado de cerezos (sakura), azaleas, acers japoneses (momiji) y otras especies que podríamos encontrar en Japón que se entremezclan con palos borrachos, tipas y magnolias.
La Fundación Cultural Argentino Japonesa se ocupa del cuidado de este jardín y de su Complejo Cultural y, por lo que se puede apreciar al menos, lo hace excelentemente bien.
El lugar fue creado en 1967 como homenaje de la comunidad nikkei argentina (se conoce como nikkei a los japoneses emigrantes y a sus descendientes) a la ciudad de Buenos Aires en ocasión de la visita del entonces príncipe Akihito.
Este tipo de jardines se caracteriza por la presencia de ciertos elementos tradicionales como grandes rocas de basalto, un estanque con peces, una isla con una cascada, puentes, linternas y una casa de té. Su diseño se basa en el principio del equilibrio inestable entre el hombre, el cielo y la tierra. Y según leí por ahí parece que para su creación se aconseja no comenzar por la idea y luego buscar los materiales sino al revés, porque son justamente los materiales los que nos van a ayudar a diseñar el jardín. Interesante punto que me llevó a reflexionar acerca de las veces en las que nos abandonamos al crecimiento de la maleza en nuestras vidas porque nuestros “jardines” no salen exacta y fielmente como los habíamos planeado.
En el fondo, junto al edificio principal (donde está el restaurant) y detrás de un patio en damero, se encuentra el vivero Kadan en el que se pueden adquirir bonsáis y varias especies de plantas entre las cuales están las mejores azaleas que puedan conseguirse en la ciudad. También hay una biblioteca y un centro cultural que funciona en la planta alta del edificio principal. En el lado opuesto del jardín, cerca de la entrada, hay un quiosco (que además de lo usual vende galletitas y gaseosas japonesas) y junto a él hay un local de souvenirs donde se pueden comprar desde lámparas de papel de arroz hasta juegos para servir sushi.
Si van a darse una vuelta no se olviden del protector solar y el antialérgico porque esta primavera se viene con todo.
Video Origami en el Jardín Japonés / Origami at the Japanese Garden (Lugares Mágicos de Buenos Aires - Liberamedia Producciones)
English Version
We are in mid September which, at least on this side of the world, means that spring is coming. To the happiness of sensitive soul (and to the disgrace of allergic bodies) there are sprouts and buds booming all over the city.
If you want to experience spring in advance do not hesitate to come to the Japanese Garden of Buenos Aires: everything is blooming and grass is perfectly green. Last Saturday noon tens of foreign visitors (I’ve met up with Americans, Brazilians, Spaniards, Venezuelans and Mexicans) as well as some locals wondered around through the paths enjoying of an ideal weather and in hope of capturing and keeping something of the new season in each photo they shot.
To walk by the pond watching the colourful carps (koi fish) seeking for food in the surface (and to judge by the size of the fish they must frequently succeed!), or simply to sit at the open air tables of the drugstore to take time to be imbued with the placid atmosphere is a remarkable experience.
The place is populated with cherry trees (sakura), azaleas, Japanese acers (momiji) and other plants we can find in Japan mingled with floss silk (palo borracho), rosewood (tipas) and magnolias.
This garden, as well as the adjoining cultural complex, is under care of the Argentine-Japanese Cultural Foundation, who fulfils its task excellently.
This place was created in 1967 by the nikkei community of Argentina (emigrants of Japan and its descendents are known as nikkei) to pay homage to the city of Buenos Aires when Prince Akihito was visiting the country.
This kind of gardens are characterized by traditional elements such as huge basaltic rocks, ponds with fish, an island with a fall, lanterns and a tea house. They are designed taking into account the unstable equilibrium principle between man, sky and earth. And, according to what I have read here and there, it seems that when you are creating one it is advisable not to start with the idea first to bring the building materials then, but right the opposite: the building materials will help us in the design of the garden. This interesting point made me reflect on the number of occasions in which we let “weeds” invade our life because our “gardens” haven’t turned out in the exact way in which they had been planned.
To the back, by the restaurant (in the main building) and behind the chequered ground there is a nursery garden (Vivero Kadan) where you can buy bonsai as well as many species of plants, the best azaleas in town are among them. They also have a library and a cultural centre located on the first floor of the main building. On the other side of the garden, not far from the entrance, there is a drugstore (they sell Japanese crackers and soda as well as the usual items) and next to it there is a souvenir shop where you can find articles such as rice paper lamps or sushi serving sets.
If you are planning to stop by do not forget your sun block and your antiallergenic medicine: this spring is arriving at full blast!
Video Origami en el Jardín Japonés / Origami at the Japanese Garden (Lugares Mágicos de Buenos Aires - Liberamedia Producciones)
English Version
We are in mid September which, at least on this side of the world, means that spring is coming. To the happiness of sensitive soul (and to the disgrace of allergic bodies) there are sprouts and buds booming all over the city.
If you want to experience spring in advance do not hesitate to come to the Japanese Garden of Buenos Aires: everything is blooming and grass is perfectly green. Last Saturday noon tens of foreign visitors (I’ve met up with Americans, Brazilians, Spaniards, Venezuelans and Mexicans) as well as some locals wondered around through the paths enjoying of an ideal weather and in hope of capturing and keeping something of the new season in each photo they shot.
To walk by the pond watching the colourful carps (koi fish) seeking for food in the surface (and to judge by the size of the fish they must frequently succeed!), or simply to sit at the open air tables of the drugstore to take time to be imbued with the placid atmosphere is a remarkable experience.
The place is populated with cherry trees (sakura), azaleas, Japanese acers (momiji) and other plants we can find in Japan mingled with floss silk (palo borracho), rosewood (tipas) and magnolias.
This garden, as well as the adjoining cultural complex, is under care of the Argentine-Japanese Cultural Foundation, who fulfils its task excellently.
This place was created in 1967 by the nikkei community of Argentina (emigrants of Japan and its descendents are known as nikkei) to pay homage to the city of Buenos Aires when Prince Akihito was visiting the country.
This kind of gardens are characterized by traditional elements such as huge basaltic rocks, ponds with fish, an island with a fall, lanterns and a tea house. They are designed taking into account the unstable equilibrium principle between man, sky and earth. And, according to what I have read here and there, it seems that when you are creating one it is advisable not to start with the idea first to bring the building materials then, but right the opposite: the building materials will help us in the design of the garden. This interesting point made me reflect on the number of occasions in which we let “weeds” invade our life because our “gardens” haven’t turned out in the exact way in which they had been planned.
To the back, by the restaurant (in the main building) and behind the chequered ground there is a nursery garden (Vivero Kadan) where you can buy bonsai as well as many species of plants, the best azaleas in town are among them. They also have a library and a cultural centre located on the first floor of the main building. On the other side of the garden, not far from the entrance, there is a drugstore (they sell Japanese crackers and soda as well as the usual items) and next to it there is a souvenir shop where you can find articles such as rice paper lamps or sushi serving sets.
If you are planning to stop by do not forget your sun block and your antiallergenic medicine: this spring is arriving at full blast!
Wow I wanna be in Buenos Aires ASAP!! I don't wanna miss spring there!! I will pay a visit to the Japanese Garden
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