Shukkeien

In 1620, the garden was built by Ueda Soko, a chief retainer of the Asano clan and known as a tea master, as a garden for the villa of the lord of the Asano clan. The garden is said to have been modeled after the world-famous scenic West Lake in China, and was named Shukkeien (Shukukeien) because it depicts the scenery of mountains and rivers, the atmosphere of Kyoto and the deep mountains in a miniature form. The pond dug in the center of the garden is topped with islands of various sizes, and visitors can enjoy strolling around the cleverly placed valleys, bridges, and gazebos, which is why it is also known as a strolling garden. The garden was destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945, but the Seifukan and Meigetsu-tei pavilions have been restored. During the G7 Hiroshima Summit, the spouses of the leaders visited the garden as part of the Partners Program.