PLATE XVII. 



HOTTA-NO-NIWA, FUKAGAWA. 



Until recent years the Hotta-no-Niwa, a Tokio garden belonging to the Daimio 

 of Sakura, in the province of Shimosa, was one of the most elaborate city gardens. 

 Unfortunately it no longer exists, having been broken up and the material conveyed 

 elsewhere. As in almost all first class gardens, an extensive lake formed the central 

 feature. Around this were winding walks and intercepting mounds and hillocks slop- 

 ing down to the water's edge to terminate in sandy beaches adorned with enormous 

 stone slabs, rocks, and graceful lanterns. The garden hills were covered with a num- 

 ber of evergreen bushes clipped into spherical and trailing shapes, and interspersed 

 with curious rocks and granite standard-lanterns. In the lower illustration on Plate 

 XVII. may be observed the principal vertical rock of the garden, situated in front of 

 the main hillock, in the background. The steps and stones below it are arranged 

 in such a way as to suggest, to those acquainted with the rules of Japanese landscape 

 gardening, the cascade-inlet of the lake. At one point a trellis of wistaria creepers 

 overhangs the water, and on the opposite side a raised gallery forms a cool summer 

 retreat. In the foreground of the upper illustration may be noticed a characteristic 

 leaning pine-tree with an attenuated branch trained over a stone lantern of the 

 Snow-scene class. The distance displays a curious stone bridge consisting of long 

 granite slabs supported upon wooden piles driven into the bed of the stream. This 

 garden may be taken as a very good example of the style of Hill Garden formerly 

 very common in the thickly populated districts near the river and canals of Tokio. 

 The water of the neighbouring river is utilised to form the lake, and the noise and 

 unsightliness of the crowded streets outside are excluded by a boundary of high 

 hillocks giving the garden the appearance of a secluded country spot. 



