Genkyū-en, Daimyo garden at Hikone Castle, Japan
Genkyū-en is a daimyo garden next to Hikone Castle that features a central pond connected by nine bridges to small islands, waterfalls, and a traditional tea house called Hakkitei. The grounds spread across several levels with carefully planted trees and shrubs that frame views of the pond and surrounding hills.
The garden was created by Ii Naooki, the fourth lord of Hikone domain, starting in 1677 and completed in 1679 as part of his secondary residence. This period marked an era when regional lords enhanced their estates with expansive garden designs.
The garden combines elements from two landscape traditions: the Eight Views of Xiaoxiang from China and the Eight Views of Ōmi from the local region. You can see this blend in how plants and stones are arranged to create different viewpoints as you walk through the space.
The garden can be entered on foot from several access points, and visitors should plan for several hours to explore the entire space. The weather in the area follows central Japan patterns with cold winters and warm summers, so bringing appropriate footwear and clothing is practical.
The water in the central pond is supplied directly from the castle's outer moat through an ingenious siphoning system that keeps water levels constant throughout the year. This hidden engineering system reveals the technical skill of the Edo period craftsmen.
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