Yūsuichi Pond has been here since the luminary Japanese general, Prince Yamagata Aritomo, began famously designing gardens. If you look at it from above, you will see it is shaped like a gourd. Like a poem, he carefully laid out the landscape of the park and picked ten scenic spots, with Yūsuichi Pond being one of them. We invite you to enjoy this wondrous sight of clouds spreading out like an ocean before you.
The “sea of clouds” phenomenon is often seen in mountainous regions, but you may not necessarily see it even if you go all that way. First, you need the right weather conditions. Then, you need the right difference in air temperature in order to create a low-hanging ceiling of clouds rather than high-flying ones. And after that, you need to be at a higher altitude than the cloud layer in order to properly view it.
Basically, if a lot of seasonal, climate, time, and geographical factors don’t come together, you can’t see this miraculous phenomenon.
However, you can see that miraculous sight right here in Tokyo, at the Tokyo Sea of Clouds. Here, modern technology brings the natural phenomenon of the cloud sea several times a day. Though the cloud sea is man-made, the ebb and flow of the clouds themselves change every day depending on differences in wind direction, intensity, and changes in both ground and air temperatures.
Verdant tree canopies look like islands in the ocean when you look down at the Sea of Clouds from the upper floors. Rarer still is the experience of immersing yourself in the fluff-covered garden for a walk inside the Sea of Clouds. If you are in the garden at that time, we invite you to wait anywhere between one to three minutes to enjoy seeing the fog change around you.
Normally, the sea-of-cloud phenomenon appears early in the morning, before dawn. However, the Tokyo Sea of Clouds appears whether it’s morning, day, or night. Mist particles glitter, reflecting the morning light. At night the clouds hang in trails through the garden, bathing in subtle, quiet moonlight. This bizarre space painted in gold and brocade invites you in with a strange allure. Please enjoy this miracle of nature at the heart of Tokyo to the fullest.
Now, depending on the season, one might hear some truly comforting sounds…
Buzzing…
and trilling…
and clicking…
A switch flicking on!
Giant katydids, grasshoppers, and crickets galore – pine, bell, and bush. Japanese people do not only appreciate illusory insects like fireflies but also find the cries of other insects soothing. “Mushi-kiki” is the word for this appreciation of insect-song from the end of summer to the start of autumn. Originally enjoyed by the Capital nobility, Mushi-kiki as an activity spread to the masses in the middle of the Edo Period. Not content with merely listening to the insects, many people caught and kept them, competed over which one made the best sounds, composed music inspired by their cries, and basked in their elegance.
