Maruyamakoen Park

Laid out in 1886, Maruyama Park is the oldest public park in Kyoto. A fountain fed by the Lake Biwa Canal was added to its gourd-shaped pond in 1893, and in 1914 Ogawa Jihei VII completed the stroll garden that survives today. Look closely at the stonework around the pond: Ogawa, known for his handling of worked stone, slipped pieces resembling old bridge girders in among the natural rocks. About 630 cherry trees stand in the park now, and the weeping cherry at its centre is the famous one — the second of its line, 87 years old. In blossom season it's lit at night, which is why this is the cherry-viewing spot Kyoto is known for.