One of my dream destinations for future trips is Japan and, specifically, the cities of Tokyo and Kyoto. That dream will have to wait, but in the meantime I have been able to escape to a corner near the capital of Spain that is deeply reminiscent of the Japanese country, its lifestyle and its vision of the world.
It is located in Alcobendasnorth of the city of Madrid, about 13 km from the center, in an environment of residential areas, business centers and good public transport connections. In addition, it is very close to the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport and San Sebastián de los Reyes, a town with which it practically forms an urban continuum.
Why is there a Japanese garden in Madrid?
The Japanese garden is located within Parque de la Vega (on Avenida Olímpica, 5; in the Arroyo de la Vega urbanization) and was built 14 years ago, in 2011, when the city council and the Japanese embassy agreed to create a beautiful place that brings together oriental traditions to the citizens of Alcobendas. For this, there is nothing better than a beautiful garden that also includes a monument, The Peace Bell, and a bonsai museum.
The Peace Bell
The landscaper Takeshi Shitara He was in charge of turning the project into a reality. One of his great ideas was to build a pavilion over a small pond to house the Peace Bell, a replica of the Japanese bell tower found at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York, as a tribute to the victims of World War II.
A bonsai museum
Another attraction of the Japanese garden is the Bonsai Museum, founded by Madrid-born Luis Vallejo, one of the most important collectors in the world in 1995.
It has more than 200 copies of this type of tree that for the Japanese symbolizes strength, happiness and eternal life. In addition to Vallejo bonsais, there are bonsais by Masahiko Kimura, Saburo Kato, Hiroshi Takeyama and Shinji Suzuki.
It is a pleasure to walk among the plants that grow on rocks and next to the water in a harmonious space. There is no shortage of wooden bridges and trees with beautiful flowers.
The Parque de la Vega, which occupies 15,000 square meters, has children’s areas, an Environmental Education Classroom, wide meadows and walks. It is perfect to connect with nature without leaving the city.
Yamaguchi Park in Pamplona
In addition to the one in Alcobendas, in Spain there is another Japanese garden in the San Juan neighborhood, in Pamplona (Navarra). He Yamaguchi park It has lakes, islands, waterfalls and typical Japanese vegetation, designed for walking and contemplation at any time of the year.
In this garden you can admire more than 400 trees and 600 plants, many of them coming directly from Japan. Among its elements are a large geyser, a stilt house, a pond with a bridge and a waterfall, and a lake with a pagoda.
Characteristics of Japanese gardens
Japanese gardens are much more than green spaces. They are artistic and philosophical representations of nature, designed to evoke calm, serenity and promote reflection.
Its essential characteristics are based on deep aesthetic and spiritual principles:
Symbolism: Nature is the ideal to emulate and symbolize. Japanese gardens seek to create a «big» landscape in even the smallest of spaces, where a rock can represent a mountain, a pool a lake, and a pile of raked sand an ocean.
Asymmetry and balance: Unlike Western gardens that often strive for symmetry, Japanese gardens are characterized by their asymmetry. The elements are placed diagonally and distributed so that no object occupies a central position, seeking a harmonious balance that is not necessarily symmetrical, as occurs in nature.
Empty space: A key and often surprising element to Western eyes is the presence of «emptiness» or «ma» in the garden. This space, far from being an unfilled hole, defines the elements that surround it and is in turn defined by them, embodying the spirit of yin and yang.
Wabisabi: It is a philosophical concept intrinsic to traditional Japanese design that places value on the unique and imperfect.
On the other hand, water, rock gardens and raked sand, and plants such as Japanese pines, bamboo, cherry trees, willows and cedars are essential elements of a Japanese garden. There are also usually ponds, islets, bridges, tea houses or pavilions.