Shukkeien Garden

Shukkeien Garden was created as the villa garden of Asano Nagaakira, the first lord of the Hiroshima Domain, and was designed by the chief retainer Ueda Sōko. Construction began in 1620, and the garden marked its 400th anniversary in 2020. It suffered catastrophic damage from the atomic bomb in 1945, but restoration work was carried out over about 30 years starting in 1949, resulting in the garden’s present form.
Shukkeien is said to have been modeled after China’s scenic West Lake, with landscapes of mountains and rivers, the atmosphere of Kyoto, and the essence of deep mountains "shrunken" into the garden—hence the name "Shukkeien" (literally, "shrunken scenery garden"). A large pond sits at the center, and because visitors can stroll around and enjoy valleys, bridges, and teahouses along the way, it is also called a stroll-style (kaiyū-shiki) garden. Seasonal flowers can be enjoyed throughout the year, and cherry blossoms and autumn leaves are sometimes illuminated at night. Events are also held in line with the seasons, such as cherry-blossom-viewing tea gatherings in spring, tea-picking festivals, rice-planting festivals in summer, and Tanabata tea gatherings. Access to Shukkeien: get off the streetcar at "Shukkeien-mae" (right nearby). By bus, get off at "Prefectural Art Museum-mae (Shukkeien-mae)" on the Hiroshima city loop bus.