In 2016 I went in search of Gardens, mainly the top 3 gardens of Japan: Kenrokku-en. Koraku-en and Kairaku-en. As I was going to the US later on the same trip, I flew into Narita, stayed a night at a secondary station on the Shinkansen line instead of going into Tokyo Station, and took the Shinkansen to Nagoya the next day. From Nagoya, I investigated the Inuyama castle and a nearby garden The immaculately trimmed bushes were fascinating And so were the old bonsai trees Inuyama castle was accessed by a steep stone-paved slope, all part of the security design for Japanese castles. I decided to climb to the top floor, and was well rewarded with a commanding view of the environs, as was the purpose of this fortress. Back in Nagoya, I paid a visit to it's castle Onward to the first garden at Okayama, Koraku-en A flat plain greeted me as the garden came into view. There were also many water features There are also some rice fields, seen here at the i