Kyoto’s Amazing Haradanien Garden, Part 1
desktop background image of cherry blossoms at the Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) in Kyoto Japan -- The Haradanien Garden Kyoto, Japan 原谷苑、京都市 -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
The Haradanien Garden
Kyoto, Japan
原谷苑、京都市
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Yesterday's post (“Photo Shoot at Kyoto’s Haradanien Garden: John and Ai”) has inspired me to at least start to try to show the magnificent Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) in north-west Kyoto, a few kilometers in the mountains behind the Kinkakuji “Golden Pavilion” Temple. I'd made my first visit last week and from that trip had posted so far only one wigglegram, and then visited a few days ago for the photoshoot with John and Ai, and from that visit also posted some subtle pastel blossoms.

The Little-Known West Entrance -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/1000 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
The Little-Known West Entrance

Having entrusted my route to get there to Google Maps on my iPhone, I unknowingly ended up at a minor secondary entrance on the opposite side of the garden from the main entrance. This was wonderful because it meant that I had a large part of the garden just to myself for a while, before people filtered up from the main entrance. It was also nice because I was spared what I found out on the second trip to be a decidedly unappealing experience of loud hordes outside the main entrance.

I was surprised to find that the entrance fee was ¥1,200, double what I might have expected before seeing the garden. After having seen the garden at peak blossom season, though, the price seems low.

Just Inside -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/1600 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Just Inside
desktop background image of cherry blossoms at the Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) in Kyoto Japan -- Huge Canopy that seems to never end -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/3200 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Huge Canopy
that seems to never end
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Multidimensional It's hard to know where to focus -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/500 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Multidimensional
It's hard to know where to focus
The Hordes Approach -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
The Hordes Approach

It alternated between sun and clouds (and even rained a bit toward the late afternoon), and so the light was changing often, as did the view depending on whether you were under the canopy or looking out a portal...

desktop background image of cherry blossoms at the Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) in Kyoto Japan -- Bright Spot -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/500 sec, f/4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Bright Spot
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Looking Up -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/320 sec, f/7.1, ISO 180 — map & image datanearby photos
Looking Up
Shade Punctuated by Sun -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/1250 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Shade Punctuated by Sun
Teeming Crowds -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/2500 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Teeming Crowds
Yet Another Nice Area -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/1000 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Yet Another Nice Area
A Peek at the Mountains Beyond -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/3200 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
A Peek at the Mountains Beyond
Leisurely Break -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Leisurely Break
Some Guy with a Camera -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Some Guy with a Camera

Despite that the crowds can grow quite thick, the layout of the gardens — paths crisscrossing on a many-leveled hillside separated by a large variety of flowers, trees, and shrubs — enables many photographic possibilities. I was constantly surprised at the kind of shots I could get... long, sweeping shots showing just one person or one small group in frame, despite the pulsating throngs of people.

Common Scene -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 125 — map & image datanearby photos
Common Scene
Peace -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Peace
Extra-Pretty Blossoms -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Extra-Pretty Blossoms

I wonder what kind of shot she got. Here's mine:

desktop background image of cherry blossoms at the Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) in Kyoto Japan -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/1000 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
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Multi-Layer -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/800 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Multi-Layer
Clearing -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/1600 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Clearing
“Omurozakura Cherry” is what the sign says (御室桜) -- The Haradanien Garden (原谷苑) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/3200 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
“Omurozakura Cherry”
is what the sign says (御室桜)

Continued here...


All 2 comments so far, oldest first...

He, Jeffrey, I went there today, breathtaking!

— comment by Hugo on April 9th, 2014 at 9:06pm JST (10 years, 7 months ago) comment permalink

Hi, I am planning to do a prewedding photoshoot in Haradani en Garden. Do you need permission for photoshoot?

Regards,
Lauren

I’ve done simple shoots before, and just blended in with the hundred-gazillion other folks doing the same thing. If it would be a big hubbub (large staff with lots of light banks and tripods) you might need to ask. I dunno. As far as I could tell, it’s not mentioned on their web site. —Jeffrey

— comment by Lauren Foo on January 28th, 2016 at 5:24am JST (8 years, 9 months ago) comment permalink
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