Begin at the main gate of Yosuien, where your guide introduces the history of the garden and its role as a private residence for the Kishū Tokugawa family—one of the three great Tokugawa houses that supported the shogunate. After purchasing your ticket, explore the elegant Yosuitei Pavilion, a refined tea and reception hall that reflects the aesthetics of the Edo elite. Through its wooden latticework and open spaces, sense the Tokugawa philosophy of shizukesa—tranquil beauty born from restraint and balance.

Following the garden path, encounter a perfect harmony of water, stone, and greenery. Cross the graceful Mitsubashi (Three Bridges) and the Taikobashi (Drum Bridge), and learn how daimyō gardens were not merely ornamental landscapes but political and cultural stages where lords demonstrated sophistication and authority. The sweeping ponds, sculpted pines, and borrowed scenery from Wakanoura’s coastal hills create a living painting that changes with every season.

As you continue toward Kitsuneyama Hill and the garden’s shoreline, the view opens into a tranquil panorama once admired by the Tokugawa lords themselves. The gentle sound of the breeze through the pines and the reflection of clouds on the water reveal the essence of Japanese garden philosophy—the pursuit of unity between human art and the natural world.

The tour concludes at the nearby Minato Goten (Port Villa), a refined seaside residence built for the Tokugawa lords when visiting Wakanoura. With its tatami-floored rooms and ocean-facing verandas, the villa embodies the quiet dignity of Edo-period design. Admission to Minato Goten is free with your Yosuien ticket, allowing you to experience the complete world of Tokugawa aesthetics.