The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, located in London, feature several notable examples of Japanese wooden architecture and related structures:
1. Chokushi-Mon (Imperial Envoy’s Gateway)
- A beautiful, four-fifths-scale replica of the Karamon Gate of the Nishi Hongan-ji temple in Kyoto.
- Originally built for the 1910 Japan-British Exhibition and relocated to Kew in 1911.
- Surrounded by a serene Japanese landscape, emphasizing traditional aesthetics and craftsmanship.
2. Japanese Minka House
- An authentic, traditional Japanese farmhouse, meticulously dismantled in Japan and reconstructed in Kew Gardens.
- Offers insights into rural Japanese life, traditional construction techniques, and cultural heritage.
- Located within the Bamboo Garden, enhancing the setting’s authenticity.
3. Japanese Landscape and Bamboo Gardens
- Features carefully curated plantings, stone lanterns, and traditional garden elements, complementing the wooden structures.
- Showcases Japanese gardening principles like harmony, simplicity, and tranquility.
Together, these features at Kew Gardens provide a unique and immersive experience of traditional Japanese wooden architecture and landscape design in the United Kingdom.