©Arukikata. Co. , Ltd.  |  ©Bringer Japan Z Inc.

Suizenji Jojuen Garden

Verified [Verified] denotes information that has been published with confirmation of its owing parties.

Suizenji Jojuen Garden

The Hosokawa clan's elegant garden in the Higo domain.

4.32 7

Last update :
Supervised by :  Suizenji Jojuen Garden

It is a stroll garden with spring water that Tadatoshi, the first lord of the Hosokawa clan, created after building a teahouse here where subsoil water from the Aso Mountains gushed forth. Tsunatoshi, the third lord of the Hosokawa clan, later created a large-scale garden that was named "Jojuen" after a poem by Tao Yuanming.

The garden is home to the Izumi Shrine dedicated to the Hosokawa clan, a Noh theater, and the Kokindenju-no-ma teahouse, which was relocated from the Kyoto Imperial Palace. The garden is filled with cherry and pine trees, floating rocks in the pond, and a hill resembling Mount Fuji, all of which evoke an Edo-era atmosphere. The area including Suizenji Jojuen was selected as one of the Heisei era's 100 best water sources, and it attracts many visitors for the "water of longevity" that springs in the precincts of the Izumi Shrine.

During the Izumi Shrine's grand festival, the Noh stage and traditional horseback archery are performed. Visitors can enjoy a cup of matcha green tea and Japanese sweets in the Kokindenju-no-ma or the adjoining teahouse, which has the most beautiful view of the garden.

Highlights

  • The garden is the second best tourist attraction in Kumamoto City after Kumamoto Castle, and is a Japanese garden associated with the Hosokawa clan.
  • The pond in the garden's center is a spring-fed pond that was selected as one of the Heisei era's 100 best water sources.
  • The water that springs from the Izumizu Shrine, which enshrines Hosokawa feudal lords, is known as the water of longevity.
  • It is also the location of the discovery of Suizenjinori, a special seaweed used in Japanese cuisine.

Photos

  • The cone-shaped hill resembling Mount Fuji is the symbol of this garden.

    The cone-shaped hill resembling Mount Fuji is the symbol of this garden.

  • The Hosokawa clan's stroll garden took three generations to complete.

    The Hosokawa clan's stroll garden took three generations to complete.

  • The 10,000 m² pond in the garden's center is a spring-fed pond that was selected as one of the Heisei era's 100 best water sources.

    The 10,000 m² pond in the garden's center is a spring-fed pond that was selected as one of the Heisei era's 100 best water sources.

  • Many people visit here during the cherry blossom season.

    Many people visit here during the cherry blossom season.

  • Visitors can take a stroll around and admire the well-kept garden from various angles.

    Visitors can take a stroll around and admire the well-kept garden from various angles.

Reviews

7

Some reviews are AI-translated.

  • 周黛西
    See More

    On a beautiful, breezy morning, we set out for Suizenji Jojuen Garden. Jojuen is not only a nearly 400-year-old Japanese garden but also an important nationally designated scenic spot and a must-see when visiting Kumamoto.
    Upon entering, the first things that come into view are the central spring-fed pond and the “Mt. Fuji mound.” The pond covers about 10,000 square meters and is fed by underground water flowing from Mt. Aso. Watching the large koi swim leisurely through the emerald-green water is very soothing. Cherry, pine, and plum trees, among others, are planted around the pond, so the scenery probably changes with each season. The Mt. Fuji mound and the shimmering pond complement each other beautifully and are worth seeing.
    This stroll garden was named after the line “The garden grows more delightful with each daily stroll” from “The Return” by the Eastern Jin poet Tao Yuanming. This also made me notice the haiku monuments dedicated to the Japanese literary master Natsume Soseki. By the time I completed a loop from the entrance, I had found all three haiku monuments. I’ll savor them more deeply later when reflecting on these memories.

  • KEIKO
    See More

    Suizenji is a very large Edo-period stroll garden. It gets especially crowded with visitors during cherry blossom and fall foliage seasons, and it's a great place to take photos in a kimono. The little ducks in the pond are really super cute.

  • 王小鈞
    See More

    Admission to Suizenji Jojuen Garden is currently JPY 500 for adults. The garden's official website also notes that there is no dedicated parking lot, so if you're driving, you'll need to use a nearby paid parking lot.
    Suizenji Jojuen Garden is one of Kumamoto's most iconic Japanese gardens. It is a pond-strolling garden fed by natural spring water from Aso, with a pond, artificial hills, pine trees, and a historic teahouse. It's very pleasant to walk around.
    The garden was first created by Hosokawa Tadatoshi in 1632 and was later expanded by successive lords of the Hosokawa clan, gradually taking on the appearance it has today. The scenery is actually quite varied, with thoughtful little details in every corner. It's a great place to stroll, stop, and take photos.
    This time, I finally had enough time to explore the whole garden properly. Otherwise, I might have just hurried through and missed the pleasure of appreciating it.

  • 向文典
    See More

    A couple of years ago, I visited Suizenji with my family and friends and tried on kimono—walking through the Japanese garden felt so atmospheric! 😃 It’s such a great memory. ❤️ Seeing how it took eighty years to build the garden, with its springs and hills, it’s no wonder Suizenji Jojuen is designated as a national scenic and historic site. Truly impressive! 👍

  • Eva Chang
    See More

    I really love the garden at Suizenji! It's so atmospheric~ The shops nearby are also great for browsing. Last time I went, I even tried on a kimono and felt just like a Japanese girl~ hehe

Details

Name in Japanese
水前寺成趣園
Postal Code
862-0956
Address
8-1 Suizenjikoen, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto
Telephone
096-383-0074
Holiday
Open every day
Business Hours
8:30am - 5:00pm (Admission allowed until 4:30pm)
Admission
Adults 500 yen, 15 years old and under 200 yen
Directions
From JR Kumamoto Station, take the municipal bus and get off at the “Suizenji Koen”, then walk for 3 minutes.
Credit Cards
Accepted
Official Website
Official Website (Japanese)
Kumamoto City Tourism Policy Division (English)
Popular Articles
Hokkaido Tohoku Kanto Chubu Hokuriku Kansai Chugoku Shikoku Kyushu Okinawa