Suizenji Jojuen Garden
水前寺成趣園
A Momoyama-style stroll garden built over generations by the Hosokawa family, famous for its miniature Tokaido road scenery and the 'Little Mount Fuji'.
Suizenji Jojuen is a stroll garden that the Hosokawa family, lords of Higo Domain, began building in 1636. It was completed over three generations of lords. Centered on a clear pond fed by Aso's underground spring water, the garden has rockeries, lawns and pines arranged around the water. It is said to imitate the scenery of the 53 stations of the Tokaido road, and the cone-shaped grassy hill trimmed at the pond's edge is called 'Little Fuji', the garden's emblem. The garden includes Idemizu Shrine, which enshrines past Hosokawa lords, and its 'Water of Longevity' can be drunk. The Kokin Denju-no-ma is a teahouse moved from Kyoto, where you can drink matcha with Japanese sweets while sitting and looking out over the pond. Colorful carp swarm in the pond, and you can buy fish food to feed them. Adult admission is about 400 yen. Hours are usually 7:30 to 18:00 from March to October, and 8:30 to 17:00 from November to February. Access: a 3-minute walk from the Suizenji Park tram stop, and about 20 minutes by car from Kumamoto Castle.
Opening hours
07:30–18:00 (Nov–Feb 08:30–17:00)
Nearby sights
- Lake Ezu & Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens
- Kumamon Square
- Kamitori & Shimotori Arcades
- Kumamoto Castle
- Sakuranobaba Josaien
- Former Hosokawa Gyobu Residence
- Honmyo-ji Temple
- Reigando Cave & Unganzen-ji