Shukkeien Garden 縮景園

Shukkeien is representative of a style of Japanese garden known as kaiyushiki teien (“excursion-style garden”). The manmade but natural-looking Lake Takueichi, which dominates the garden’s center, is dotted with 14 large and small islands (seven on either side of the lake’s arched stone bridge) that represent the islands of the nearby Seto Inland Sea. Surrounding the lake and unfolding across the garden are carefully placed features such as bridges, valleys, teahouses, and arbors.

Extensive renovations were undertaken here between 1783 and 1830, leaving the Chozenkyo Pavilion and its surrounding landscape the only features remaining from Ueda’s original plans. The atomic bombing of August 6, 1945 inflicted severe damage on Shukkeien, destroying every one of its structures, save for the stone bridge. The structures were rebuilt following the war.

Scars of the atomic bombing that can be seen on a circuit around Shukkeien include three of only 161 trees in Hiroshima confirmed to have survived the resulting conflagration. One is a ginkgo tree said to infuse people with part of its spirit when touched. Another, the tallest of the surviving trees, is a pine tree situated close to the Enko River, which borders Shukkeien on its eastern side. Also near the river is a memorial to victims of the A-bomb. This was built following the discovery of photos showing that bodies had been buried in makeshift graves in the garden following the attack.

Shukkeien, a picturesque and tranquil Japanese garden, was originally created in 1620. The Asano family, which ruled over the region for more than 300 years, requested that noted tea master and samurai Ueda Soko (1563–1650) design a “shrunken scenic garden”—as the name Shukkeien translates—encapsulating mountain and river views in a space about the size of Hiroshima’s present-day baseball stadium.

An artificial but entirely natural-looking lake dominates Shukkeien’s center and can be traversed via an arched stone bridge. Fourteen islands of varying size, seven dotted on each side of the bridge, represent those of the Seto Inland Sea. Colorful, boldly patterned carp gather close to the bridge in abundance, aware that this is the place humans tend to toss food into the water. Turtles swim unhurriedly alongside the fish, occasionally venturing onto dry land. Crabs can also be seen scuttling around, and a variety of bird species either inhabit the park or visit seasonally.

The garden is tastefully laid out with valleys, bridges, teahouses, arbors, and other sights for visitors to enjoy. Additional highlights of a circuit around Shukkeien include a small bamboo grove, and an orchard of ume plum trees.

Shukkeien was heavily damaged by the atomic bombing. Every structure except for the stone bridge was destroyed, and only three trees survived. All of the buildings, including the pampas-grass-roofed Meigetsutei teahouse, were rebuilt following the war.