Kotoji-tōrō

Kenroku-en contains roughly 8,750 trees, and 183 species of plants in total. Among the garden's points of special interest, these are the ones I found most impressive:

• The oldest fountain in Japan, operating by natural water pressure.
• Yūgao-tei, a teahouse, the oldest building in the garden, built 1774
• Karasaki Pine, planted from seed by the 13th lord Nariyasu from Karasaki.
• Flying Geese Bridge (Gankō-bashi), made of eleven red stones, laid out to resemble geese in a flying formation
• Kotoji-tōrō, (pictured) a stone lantern with two legs, said to resemble the bridge on a koto.

The koto 箏 is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument, and is the national instrument of Japan. The Kotoji-tōrō is emblematic of Kenroku-en and Kanazawa and you are likely to see many photographers gathered around this area of the garden.