Shukkei-en Garden

縮景園

An Edo-period daimyo garden built in imitation of West Lake, with the Kokokyo Bridge over the pond and a tea house, a city-center oasis restored from the atomic ruins.

Shukkei-en lies on the west bank of the Kyobashi River in central Hiroshima. It was built in 1620 by Asano Nagaakira, daimyo of Hiroshima, who ordered his chief retainer Ueda Soko to construct it as the Asano family's villa garden. The name means 'shrinking mountains and rivers into a single garden'. It is said to be modeled on Hangzhou's West Lake, which is why Chinese visitors call it 'Hiroshima's little West Lake'. It is a strolling pond garden. The central Zaiei Pond imitates West Lake and has more than a dozen small islands. The stone arch Kokokyo Bridge over the pond, built in 1783 by a renowned Kyoto craftsman, is the garden's visual centre. Along the pond are the Seifukan tea house, where matcha can be bought for a fee, and the Meigetsutei pavilion. Garden paths lead past hills, ravines, rice paddies, plum groves and cherry groves, with a new view at every step. At the time of the 1945 atomic bombing, the garden was about 1.4 km from the hypocenter. Its buildings were destroyed, and it served as a temporary refuge. A bomb-scarred ginkgo tree and a memorial stone remain beside the pond. After the war the garden was restored to its original plan, completed in 1970. The garden has seasonal blooms: plum in February, cherry in April (about 120 trees, illuminated at night), azalea in May, iris in June and autumn foliage illuminated in November. Next door, the Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum has windows overlooking the garden, and a combined ticket is available. Admission is 260 yen, or 610 yen with the Prefectural Art Museum combined ticket. Access: the Shukkeien-mae stop on the Hiroden Shirakami Line is right at the garden, about a 15-minute walk from Hiroshima Station, and about a 15-minute walk from Hiroshima Castle. Allow 45 minutes to 1 hour. Note: the paths are mostly stone slabs and dirt, so they are slippery when wet. Carp feed can be bought at the entrance, and tripods are not allowed in the garden.

Shukkei-en Garden

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby