Japan is probably the only country in the world that is full of contrasts and unexpected non-standard designs made by architects in their fantastic projects on the territory of Japanese cities. The historical and cultural heritage of the previous centuries is masterfully combined with the achievements of modern science and technology. Sometimes it even looks like scenes from American films about machines and robots of the mysterious future. In Japanese cities, traditions are still honored, landscape parks and old architectural monuments are restored. At the same time, adjustments that correspond to the present time are made. There are the imagination catching objects of modern art and architectural masterpieces that are more inherent in European culture.

A fascinating green oasis in the center of one of the biggest Japanese cities, Kobe, is the only traditional city garden. Besides, it is an amazing example of the mix of Japanese landscape design and Western architectural style of buildings located on its territory. Although picturesque Sorakuen has passed through destruction and restorations many times throughout its history, it has been unchanged for more than a century. Today, it gives a perfect insight into the landscape art of the end of the 19th-beginning of the 20th centuries.

Its history started in 1885 alongside with building of the residence of the Kuroda clan. Although the building was finished in 1911, the garden was opened for the public only in 1941. During those years the territory of the exquisite garden housed several living and utility buildings, which, unfortunately, were destroyed as a result of a severe bombing of 1945. The only well-preserved constructions of the Meiji era are the old stables of the beginning of the 20th century.

The splendid traditional Japanese garden was built in the style of Chisen Kaiyu which was popular at that time. The specific feature of that style is that the whole design is created around one central element. In Sorakuen, this element is an artificial pond with numerous stone bridges, artificial waterfalls and incredibly beautiful colorful flower beds. However, the main attraction of the splendid garden is considered an ancient camphor tree which is more than 500 years old.