A Bonsai Tree

How it this for a bonsai tree? I always thought that bonsai trees were little trees in pots, carefully manicured, trimmed and trained into shape. Even in all my reading that is what a bonsai tree is. But look at this one! It has bonsai written all over it! Carefully trimmed and trained into shape, just not in a pot, it is in the ground!

This tree was in the grounds of Nijo Castle in Kyoto, Japan. The garden there was stunning, as were the buildings. More pics to come.