All Reviews of Suizenji Jojuen Garden

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.

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.

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.

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

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! 👍

A lot of shops nearby sell spicy lotus root. The texture isn’t bad at all.

The garden is designed to recreate the beautiful scenery of the 53 stations of the Tokaido, all condensed into one place. It's really worth taking your time to enjoy.