Shizukesa Park

Situated in NeoTokyo as a bright green and pink bit of nature amidst all the industry and hustle of life there, it allows people to rediscover the beauty and tranquility of parts of old Japan. The park encourages people to slow down, to take in the sights and smells and general atmosphere of peace. It is a place known to encourage introspection, and tranquility. The large park is laid out in five distinct regions.

Osaka Castle

At the North end is Osaka Castle, lovingly and painstakingly recreated as shown in the legendary series Shogun. Patrons are encouraged to walk and explore the castle, or hire a tour guide who recounts what history is known, and more than a few folk tales and stories, about the building and the ages it experienced. The castle grounds are also home for competitions, festivals, displays, and theater performances. Several local dojos will host classes and exhibitions on the castle grounds, and also a grand martial arts tournament is held here every year. Many art schools of different disciplines will also have exhibitions and displays at various times throughout the year. One of the more recent additions has been Kabuki and Noh plays. This ancient art form has seen a recent resurgence in interest.
 

Deer Park

At the south end is a deer park. Here, among several buildings and many shade trees are around a hundred white tail deer. They have all learned to be quite polite most of the time, and will bow when bowed to. However the social contract is after bowing they are given a deer cookie (shika sinbei), and if this is not followed they can be quite insistent. After all, it’s only polite. The deer are quite tame and will even accept being petted, but are always their own creatures, so will wander when they wish to. Though a low fence keeps them inside and not spread out around the rest of the park.
 

Bamboo Forest

At the east side, and taking up a majority of that area, is the bamboo forest. Here the bamboo reaches toward the sky, with many growing to over seventy feet thanks to careful tending, both magical and mundane, by gardeners from Demeter. Winding through the forest is a path that’s only wide enough for three people to walk side by side, very closely. The forest has been designed in such a way so that moments after entering the sounds outside of it are muted, and then removed completely. Peace and tranquility truly reign in this place. The sighing of a breeze through the stalks and occasional snippets of near by conversation can be heard. Throughout the area there are small sand zen gardens, with rocks large enough for even the largest troll to sit and take in the quiet, or meditate the stresses of life away. A rake is always close at hand so those who walk on the sand may erase those traces before leaving, but will have left a new pattern, uniquely their own as they rake the sand. At night, soft hidden lights shine along the path, mostly to make sure no one gets lost in the forest or walks face first into a 6 inch thick bamboo stalk.
 

Shimogamo Shrine

At the west side is the Koi ponds and Shimogamo Shrine. A series of interconnected rock pools and streams through which hundreds large, brightly colored Koi swim. Over the streams are beautiful moon bridges allow people to cross over through the gardens. The shrine, it’s surrounding walls and the other buildings painted a bright vermillion, plays host to many events. Nearly every weekend various musicians will gather here, playing traditional instruments. There has been a small explosion in interest in these within the last 20 years, far above normal, and so players are plentiful. From shakuhachi to taiko, koto to shamisen, you will hear all of them at one time or another. Seasonal festivals, such as the Cherry Blossom Festival in March, are held here, and throughout the park, with a great number of food venders, and small game merchants setting up to bring even more of the old world feel back. Many of these end with fireworks being launched around the shrine, as people, many in traditional clothing, watch and cheer.
 

Sakura Road

Lastly, running straight down the middle of the park, from the gates of the castle to the deer park, is the sakura road. Surrounding the road and lining it the whole way, are hundreds of cherry trees. Every year around mid april, the blossoms of the trees begin to fall in an absolute snowstorm of pink petals

Architecture

The park and buildings within it have been created to be as faithful to the originals as possible.

Defenses

A low stone wall, about belly high on most adults, surrounds the entire park, acting as a demarcation point between the peace and tranquility of the park, and the busy streets of Neo Tokyo around it.