A water mirror appears in the silent forest. Attracted by the mysteries reflected in this pond, I stepped forward and planted a seed of light. A kingfisher scurries across the water's surface, an egret gracefully spreads its wings, and the sound of the flowing water evokes memories, connecting me to the here and now, and to the people with whom I resonate. Feeling the resonance of life and sharing the light of art that emerges from it, we will create a story that will continue into the future, together with you.
Garden of Light | In a forest wrapped in tranquility, a mirror of water quietly appears. Enchanted by its luminous reflection, I step closer and plant a seed of light. A kingfisher skims across the surface. An egret unfolds its wings with grace. The sound of falling water drifts through memory, leading me back to the self that is here, now — and onward, toward those who share in its echo. As we feel the pulse of life, we pass on the glimmer of art it awakens — weaving together a story that shines gently into the future.
Greetings
Near Takagamine in Rakuhoku, Kyoto, there is a beautiful pond that spreads out in a quiet forest, like a secret place.
This is a reservoir where water flows down the mountainside, collecting groundwater that springs up from underground before flowing into the Kamo River. The scenery around the pond changes with the seasons, and in spring the cherry blossoms in full bloom invite visitors into a mystical moment.
Since the Heian period, this surrounding area has been a place where aristocrats have enjoyed hunting and falconry. In the early Edo period, the artist Honami Koetsu moved to Takagamine with his family and artisans and established an art village. Records show that the court physician Noma Gentaku cultivated medicinal herbs on nearby Mount Yakushi, and south of the pond, the court physician Fujibayashi Dojutsunahisa established the Takagamine Imperial Botanical Garden, which was maintained until the Meiji period.
We named this place "Garden of Light" because, despite being located near the city, the abundant energy of nature circulates and it lives on alongside human history. Our mission is to make this "Garden of Light" beautiful, both in its visible and invisible parts, and to protect the environment sustainably for the future. We would like to share this value with everyone and make it a place of creativity and interaction.
We hope that the "Garden of Light" will become a place of co-creation that sparkles like the surface of a pond, alongside the workings of nature, and a place where we can share light into the future. It is still unknown where this activity will lead, but when we think about the Earth, we are convinced that this is the only thing we can do now.
General Incorporated Association Hikari no Niwa
Representative Director: Ritsue Mishima Representative Director: Sumitaka Tanase Director: Hayato Nishiyama
Greeting
Near Takagamine in northern Kyoto, there lies a hidden gem—a tranquil pond embraced by a quiet forest, as if it were a secret sanctuary. Fed by streams descending from the mountain slopes and enriched by underground springs, the pond gathers its waters before they journey southward to join the Kamo River.Along its shores, the scenery shifts with each season; in spring, the blossoming cherry trees invite visitors into a realm of quiet wonder and mystery.
From ancient times, this land has been cherished. In the Heian period, it was a hunting ground for nobles; in the early Edo era, the artist Hon'ami Kōetsu settled here with his family and artisans, creating a flourishing arts village. Nearby, records tell us of the court physician Noma Gentaku cultivating medicinal herbs on Yakushiyama, and further south, the “Takagamine Imperial Medical Garden,” founded by physician Fujibayashi Michitsuna, was carefully maintained until the Meiji era.
Though close to the city, this place remains a living harmony of nature's energy and human history. We have named it Hikari no Niwa—the Garden of Light. Our mission is to nurture and preserve this garden, both in what can be seen and in what lies unseen, ensuring its beauty and vitality for generations to come. We hope to share its value with others and to cultivate a place of creativity, dialogue, and exchange.
It is our wish that hikari no niwa, like the shimmering surface of the pond, will become a luminous space for co-creation — where light is shared toward the future. Though its path forward is still unfolding, we believe with certainty that this work is the one thing we can do now, for the sake of our planet.
hikari no niwa | Garden of Light
Representative Directors: Ritsue Mishima
Representative Directors: Sumitaka Tanase
Director: Hayato Nishiyama