Barakura is an English Garden in a beautiful mountainous region of Japan known as the Japanese Alps. Started 20 years ago it is now well established and includes a thriving garden centre, cafe restaurant, Italian restaurant, and two boutiques featuring Rosy Life and Barakura fashion clothing designed by Miss Kay Yamada. Both are highly successful Designer Labels in Japan offered by more than 20 dedicated outlets in department stores throughout the country.
In addition Barakura is also a highly respected gardening school, the only one teaching the English way of gardening in Japan. It has over 600 students all aiming to become Masters under the instruction of Miss Kay, who leads pupils through all aspects of gardening, from basic cultivation to creative planting; container gardening being a speciality. Miss Kay’s brother, Mr Eugene Yamada, Director of Barakura oversees all aspects of a business made of many facets.
Barakura attracts large numbers of visitors throughout the year, however visitor numbers increase dramatically during the Flower Show in June and the Harvest Festival in October. At this time there are programmes of free public lectures, container planting competitions for both novices and Masters, seminars, workshops, entertainment with a distinctly British flavour, and emphasis on British food. At the summer flower show guest trade stands offer the visitor art,
clothing, jewellery, accessories, food, wine and antiques.
Regular trade exhibitors to the show include David and Lynn Crane. David is an artist working in oils. Some of his paintings are inspired by visits to Barakura and travels in Japan, others are very English garden. He sells originals, limited edition prints and teaches the art of painting in oils during the show.
Maria and her son in law David from New York specialise in jewelle
ry, especially amber. Her collection is extensive and features both contemporary and traditional pieces. Her stand is obviously a destination that is high priority with many lady visitors – including my wife!
Now you may well be thinking, “What has this got to do with English Gardening?” For me this was one of the most English aspect of the show – Just like the Country Living marquee at Hampton Court. “Forget the flowers – give me a scarf any day!”
The garden centre offers a range plants, furniture, pots and accessories that you would find in a boutique English garden centre. Choice is limited in some areas – such as compost and fertilisers – what a relief!. In the container area Whichford predominates and maintains the profile it deserves. Peter Beales roses are regarded with great reverence, and are rightly seen as the ultimate ingredient in the English garden. I was enthralled by the range of seasonal plants destined for use in creative containers, and the guest clematis and succulent exhibitors offered superb ranges. I found myself choosing a delicate little Hydrangea serrata towards the end of the week – completely forgetting that I was in a garden centre on the other side of the planet!
And oh yes – Barakura stocks a range of Hillier shrubs and young trees. These plants that are such basics in the English garden are scarcely used in Japan. Out first shipment arrived at Barakura this spring. The plants have to be root washed for export so they were potted in Japan at Mt Ito’s nursery to the south of Tokyo – four hours by road from Barakura. Considering the timescale they looked pretty good and it was a great thrill for me to see Hillier plants on sale in the Barakura garden centre.
So what is Barakura like? Aspects of the garden struggle a little in the humid Japanese climate. The lavender isn’t happy and this year the roses are late blooming – they’ve had a cold winter – sounds very familiar doesn’t it? Does Barakura stand up as an English garden against other gardens in England? – Yes, without a shadow of a doubt. I have visited considerably less impressive English gardens which claim more and offer very much less.
And the atmosphere? Well, the same the world over where a garden is involved. Despite the language barrier you soon forget you are far from home. People are friendly, charming, enthusiastic and warm. Bara means rose and as I understand it Kura means something like “way of life” and yes, it’s a rosy life at Barakura
In addition Barakura is also a highly respected gardening school, the only one teaching the English way of gardening in Japan. It has over 600 students all aiming to become Masters under the instruction of Miss Kay, who leads pupils through all aspects of gardening, from basic cultivation to creative planting; container gardening being a speciality. Miss Kay’s brother, Mr Eugene Yamada, Director of Barakura oversees all aspects of a business made of many facets.
Barakura attracts large numbers of visitors throughout the year, however visitor numbers increase dramatically during the Flower Show in June and the Harvest Festival in October. At this time there are programmes of free public lectures, container planting competitions for both novices and Masters, seminars, workshops, entertainment with a distinctly British flavour, and emphasis on British food. At the summer flower show guest trade stands offer the visitor art,
clothing, jewellery, accessories, food, wine and antiques.Regular trade exhibitors to the show include David and Lynn Crane. David is an artist working in oils. Some of his paintings are inspired by visits to Barakura and travels in Japan, others are very English garden. He sells originals, limited edition prints and teaches the art of painting in oils during the show.
Maria and her son in law David from New York specialise in jewelle
ry, especially amber. Her collection is extensive and features both contemporary and traditional pieces. Her stand is obviously a destination that is high priority with many lady visitors – including my wife!Now you may well be thinking, “What has this got to do with English Gardening?” For me this was one of the most English aspect of the show – Just like the Country Living marquee at Hampton Court. “Forget the flowers – give me a scarf any day!”
The garden centre offers a range plants, furniture, pots and accessories that you would find in a boutique English garden centre. Choice is limited in some areas – such as compost and fertilisers – what a relief!. In the container area Whichford predominates and maintains the profile it deserves. Peter Beales roses are regarded with great reverence, and are rightly seen as the ultimate ingredient in the English garden. I was enthralled by the range of seasonal plants destined for use in creative containers, and the guest clematis and succulent exhibitors offered superb ranges. I found myself choosing a delicate little Hydrangea serrata towards the end of the week – completely forgetting that I was in a garden centre on the other side of the planet!
And oh yes – Barakura stocks a range of Hillier shrubs and young trees. These plants that are such basics in the English garden are scarcely used in Japan. Out first shipment arrived at Barakura this spring. The plants have to be root washed for export so they were potted in Japan at Mt Ito’s nursery to the south of Tokyo – four hours by road from Barakura. Considering the timescale they looked pretty good and it was a great thrill for me to see Hillier plants on sale in the Barakura garden centre.So what is Barakura like? Aspects of the garden struggle a little in the humid Japanese climate. The lavender isn’t happy and this year the roses are late blooming – they’ve had a cold winter – sounds very familiar doesn’t it? Does Barakura stand up as an English garden against other gardens in England? – Yes, without a shadow of a doubt. I have visited considerably less impressive English gardens which claim more and offer very much less.
And the atmosphere? Well, the same the world over where a garden is involved. Despite the language barrier you soon forget you are far from home. People are friendly, charming, enthusiastic and warm. Bara means rose and as I understand it Kura means something like “way of life” and yes, it’s a rosy life at Barakura
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