Genkyu-en Garden

Genkyuen is a strolling-style garden located northeast of Hikone Castle. It was created in 1677 by the 4th lord Ii Naooki and was originally called “Tsukinoniwa.” Today, the garden area is known as Genkyuen, while the palace area is called Rakurakuen. Each autumn, events such as “listening to insect sounds” are held, and the garden is illuminated together with the castle keep. It is about a 15-minute walk from JR Hikone Station, and together with Rakurakuen it is designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty. The garden was designed by modeling famous landscapes such as the “Eight Views of Xiaoxiang” around Dongting Lake in Hunan, and also scenes like Chikubu Island; the view of the garden with the castle keep rising behind it is truly impressive. Within the garden are named features such as Rinchikaku, Hoshodai, and Gyoyakuno. Hoshodai, located on an artificial hill, once served as a guest hall to entertain important visitors to the Hikone domain, and today it hosts tea gatherings where you can enjoy sweets and thin tea while viewing the garden. Rakurakuen, the lord’s lower residence, still preserves rooms such as the Great Shoin, the “Earthquake Room,” and the “Thunder Room.”