「ホテル白柳荘・富安邸庭園」福岡県柳川市・"Hotel Hakuryusoh / Tomiyasu Mansion Garden" Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Pref.

「ホテル白柳荘・富安邸庭園」福岡県柳川市

明治時代にラムネやサイダーなどの清涼飲料水業で繁栄を極めた富安家。その成功の証として築かれた大邸宅と日本庭園を活かして昭和６１年「白柳荘」は開業した。時代は流れ建物はモダンな現代建築に変わったが庭園は明治時代の面影を今によく残している（一部・江戸時代）。掘割と池の水を循環する形式は柳川に残された他の庭園群と共通する形式。池のうしろの築山を背景として庭全体は上段下段に分かれており、上下の２つの池を鑓水が結んでいる。

柳川市の道路拡張事業が行われたときホテル敷地が削られ、やむなく下池の半分を埋立てレストラン・レセプション棟を新築、それにともない掘割からの取水ルートも変更となり水の流れも変わった。そのため上池は空池となり２つの池を結ぶ遣水に水の流れも無くなった。しかし水を失った庭の上段部は枯山水の趣を呈し新たな美しい庭園景観を有するに至っている。その結果としてこの庭園は本来の池泉回遊式庭園から、室内より眺めることに重きを置く鑑賞式庭園に性格を変えた感がある。

また、レストランの広いテラスから庭園に降りる階段の上に長く枝をさし伸ばす「門被りのマキ」は、ここに滞在する客人たちへの最高のもてなしとなっている。レストランの総ガラス張り窓の外に力強く枝を伸ばすマキの姿は、白柳荘に滞在する客人たちの旅をドラマチックに演出してくれる。

現在の庭園面積は約４００平方メートルで当初よりやや小さくなったが、柳川における個人の庭園としては旧藩主・立花家の庭園「松濤園」に次ぐ規模を誇る。庭の中心に据えられ存在感を示す大型の利久型灯籠をはじめ庭内各所に１５基の石灯籠が配されている。庭の背景にはアラカシ・ヒノキ・スギ・イヌマキ・イチョウ・クスノキなどの高木が屏風のごとく立ち並んで後景をなし、手前に植栽された主役のマツやモミジを引き立てている。

旧来の客室から眺める庭園もむろん素晴らしいが、新たにリノベーションされた客室では窓枠の額縁に切り取られた庭園美が洗練された和モダンのインテリアと見事に調和し秀逸である。特に一階の「藤」がお勧め。他に二階にはジャグジーを備えた客室も。さらに新しい客室はすべてバリアフリーで車椅子での滞在も可能。白柳荘は日本庭園の伝統を大切にしながら、あらゆる顧客のニーズに応え誰もが快適に過ごせる宿泊環境の実現を目指し新しい時代へ進んでいる。

◼︎名称：「ホテル白柳荘・富安邸庭園」

◼︎住所：福岡県柳川市新町１６

◼︎TEL.：0944-73-1188

◼︎拝観時間：宿泊者のみ見学可能

◼︎駐車場：有り（無料）

◼︎アクセス：西鉄柳川駅より徒歩１５分、車で５分

"Hotel Hakuryusoh / Tomiyasu Mansion Garden" Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture

The Tomiyasu family prospered in the soft drink industry such as ramune and cider in the Meiji era. "Hakuryu-so" was opened in 1986 by making use of the mansion and Japanese garden built with the financial power brought about by its success. The times have changed, and the buildings have changed to modern architecture, but the gardens retain the scenery of the Meiji era.

The method of taking water from the waterway into the pond and discharging it into the waterway is the same format as the other gardens left in Yanagawa.

With the background of "Tsuiyama / artificial hill" behind the pond, the entire garden is divided into upper and lower tiers, and a narrow stream connects the upper and lower ponds.

In 2007, the hotel site was scraped when the road expansion project in Yanagawa City was carried out. It was unavoidable that half of the lower pond in the garden was reclaimed and a new restaurant / reception building was built. Therefore, the intake route from the waterway was also changed, and the flow of water changed.

The upper pond does not lose water and the flow connecting the two ponds is also dry.

However, as a result, the garden has a beautiful garden landscape as a "Karesansui / dry garden".

In that sense, this garden has changed its character from the original "Kaiyushiki garden / stroll garden" to "Kansyoshiki / appreciation garden" that emphasizes the view from the room.

"Mon kaburi no Maki", which has long branches extending from the large terrace of the restaurant to the garden, is the best hospitality for the guests staying here. The appearance of Maki, who stretches branches powerfully outside the restaurant's all-glass windows, will dramatically direct the journey of the guests staying at Hakuryu-so.

The current garden area is about 400 square meters, which is a little smaller, but it is the second largest private garden in Yanagawa after the former feudal lord, the Tachibana family's "Shōtoen garden".

There are 15 stone lanterns in various parts of the garden, including the large "Rikyu lantern" that has a strong presence in the center of the garden.

In the background of the garden, tall trees such as Quercus glauca, Japanese cypress, Sugi, Podocarpus macrophylla, Ginkgo, and Camphor tree line up like a folding screen to create a background, which complements the leading pine trees and maples planted in the foreground.

The gardens from the standard rooms are of course wonderful, but the new renovated superior rooms offer a more beautiful view of the gardens. The garden is like a beautiful picture in the frame of the window frame.

It is excellent in harmony with the sophisticated Japanese-modern interior of the guest rooms. Especially, "Fuji / Wisteria" on the first floor is recommended. There are also rooms with a jacuzzi on the second floor. In addition, all new rooms are barrier-free and wheelchair accessible.

Hakuryu-so is advancing into a new era with the aim of creating an accommodation environment where everyone can spend comfortably in response to the needs of various customers. That is the way to maintain the traditional Japanese garden and connect it to the next generation.

◼︎ Name: "Hotel Hakuryusoh / Tomiyasu Residence Garden"

◼︎ Address: 16 Shinmachi, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture

◼︎TEL .: 0944-73-1188

◼︎ Visiting time: Only hotel guests can visit

◼︎ Parking: Available (free)

◼︎ Access: 15 minutes walk, 5 minutes by car from Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station.