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Shukkeien Garden

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Editor Pick

In the Shrunken Garden

  • February 7, 2010
  • Rated 4 of 5 by michaelhudson from Jarrow, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom
In the Shrunken Garden

A kilometre-and-a-half from the hypercenter of the atomic bomb, Shukkeien Garden, which had been laid out in 1620, one year after the accession of the Asano family to the feudal lordship of Hiroshima, was almost obliterated at a single stroke. Fires ravaged much of what was left, killing many of the refugees who had crawled under the broken trees in search of sanctuary. Most of those who remained alive died later, without ever receiving medical help. Only the rainbow bridge spanning the centre of the pond remained intact.

Built shortly after the completion of Hiroshima Castle, Shukkeien, which translates into English as 'shrunken-scenery garden', was designed as a miniaturized model of Hangzhou's famous West Lake, with a rainbow bridge at the centre of a large pond, dotted with ten islets of differing sizes: Suishin, Koko, Sekisuigan, Chozen. On one side of the pond is a side wall of the Prefectural Art Museum; on the other the Kyobashi River. Between are valleys and mountains, bridges and tea plantations, sited as they are in China, but several times smaller. The use of space in such a concentrated area is almost magical. The twists and turns of paths around the pond hide the whole from view, opening up vistas of pine trees and plum orchards from every small peak, splitting each section into its own distinct area. It takes a whole turn around the garden before you begin to fully appreciate just how small it really is. There's nothing here that you won't have already seen if you've visited the traditional gardens of Kyoto and Tokyo, but if you're not in a rush to move on from Hiroshima then this is as good a place to spend a lazy afternoon as any in the city.

Although it's slightly out of the way if you're visiting the Peace Park and A-Bomb Dome, Shukkeien is one of the few green spaces in the centre of the city and can easily be combined with a trip to the Prefectural Art Museum, Hiroshima Castle and the Memorial Cathedral for World Peace.

Entrance is 250 yen and the gardens are open from 9 - 6pm (5pm October to March).

From journal At the End of the World: Hiroshima

Editor Pick

Shukkei-en

  • June 7, 2003
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Composthp from Singapore, Singapore
Shukkei-en

This beautiful miniture garden is modelled after Xi Hu of Hangzhou, China. It dates back to 1620 and was damaged by the A bomb. This little garden is an oasis away from the bustle of downtown. A perfect little spot for quiet contemplation; at least, until the next coach-load of elderly visitors. Don't be surprise if you see fish leaping out of the pond (not sure why though) but it makes the visit interesting.

To get there:
From JR Hiroshima Station, take a Hiroshima bus bound for Asahi-machi or a Hiroden bus bound for Yokogawa Station, and get off at "Shukkeien Iriguchi".

The garden opens from 9am - 6pm and costs 250 yen per person (so produce the Seto Inland Sea welcome card for the discount).

From journal City reborn

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