# Shukkei-en Garden, Hiroshima > Shukkei-en is a Japanese stroll garden from 1620 in central Hiroshima, set around a pond with islets and the arched Koko-kyo bridge. Entry is ¥350, free for schoolchildren. From mid-September to mid-March it opens 9:00–17:00, and until 18:00 in summer. It's 15 minutes on foot from Hiroshima Station. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima/shukkei-en - City: [Hiroshima](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima), Japan - YesGo score: 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - Opening hours: 16 September–15 March 9:00–17:00; 16 March–15 September 9:00–18:00; last entry 30 minutes before closing - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: ¥350; university students ¥150; schoolchildren free - Winter hours: 16 September–15 March 9:00–17:00 - Summer hours: 16 March–15 September 9:00–18:00 - Closed: 29–31 December - Highlights: Takuei Pond and Koko-kyo bridge - Getting there: 15 minutes on foot from Hiroshima Station, or tram to Shukkeien-mae - Coordinates: 34.40028, 132.46750 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1620** — the year the garden was laid out (source: en.wikipedia) - **Ueda Soko** — the tea master who created the garden (source: en.wikipedia) - **Asano** — the lords for whom it was made (source: en.wikipedia) - **'Shrunken scenery'** — the meaning of the name Shukkei-en (source: en.wikipedia) - **Koko-kyo** — the arched bridge over Takuei Pond (source: en.wikipedia) - **¥350** — adult entry (source: shukkeien.jp) - **Free** — for schoolchildren (source: shukkeien.jp) - **400 years** — marked by the garden in 2020 (source: shukkeien.jp) ## What is Shukkei-en Garden? **Shukkei-en**, the 'garden of shrunken scenery', is a Japanese **stroll garden** in central Hiroshima. It was laid out in **1620** for the **Asano** lords who ruled Hiroshima, and created by the tea master **Ueda Soko**. In 2020 the garden marked its 400th year. The garden is built around **Takuei Pond**, with pine-covered islets. A path leads all the way round, and at every turn a new 'miniature landscape' appears: mountains, valleys, a waterfall, rice paddies and tea fields. By tradition it echoes the scenery of China's famous West Lake. Over the pond arches the **Koko-kyo** bridge. > **Feed the carp** Hundreds of colourful koi carp swim in the pond — food for them is sold at the entrance. Walk all the way round the pond: the views change at every turn of the path. In late October and November the garden turns red with maples; in spring cherry blossom and azaleas bloom. ## Tickets and hours According to the official site, entry is **¥350** for adults, ¥150 for university students, and **free** for all schoolchildren. From 16 September to 15 March the garden opens **9:00 to 17:00**, and from 16 March to 15 September until 18:00; last entry is 30 minutes before closing. It closes only on 29–31 December. Next door, on the same grounds, is the **Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum** — they share a website, and museum exhibition tickets sometimes include a discount for the garden. The garden has a tea house where you can have matcha with sweets. ## What to see - **Takuei Pond** with its pine islets. - **The arched Koko-kyo bridge** — the garden's signature view. - **Tea houses** on the shore. - **Koi carp** in the pond. - **Miniature rice paddies** and tea bushes. - **Maples** — in November. ## How to get to Shukkei-en Garden 1. **From Hiroshima Station** — about 15 minutes on foot west. 2. **Tram** — line 9 to the Shukkeien-mae stop, 1 minute on foot. 3. **Water taxi** — along Hiroshima's rivers, with a landing by the garden. 4. **From Hiroshima Castle** — about 10 minutes on foot. 5. **From the airport** — bus to the station, about 50 minutes. ## Shukkei-en or Kyoto's gardens | | Shukkei-en | Kyoto gardens | | --- | --- | --- | | Style | A stroll garden round a pond | Dry and stroll gardens | | Entry | ¥350 | Usually ¥500–600 | | Crowds | Few | Many | | Time | 45 minutes to an hour | 30–60 minutes | ## How long do you need? **45 minutes to an hour** is enough for the garden: stroll round the pond, stand on the bridge, feed the carp and have some tea. Longer with the art museum next door. Shukkei-en pairs easily with **Hiroshima Castle**, 10 minutes' walk away, followed by lunch at Okonomi-mura for local okonomiyaki. The garden is small but dense: in half an hour's walk you pass a mountain, a gorge, a waterfall and a bridge, as if travelling through Japan in miniature. So don't rush — the point of the garden is the changing views. ## Is Shukkei-en worth visiting? Yes: it's the loveliest quiet corner of central Hiroshima, inexpensive and almost free of tourists. The YesGo take: the garden is smaller than the famous gardens of Kyoto or Kanazawa and less 'postcard'. But in Hiroshima it's the best place for a peaceful walk, especially in autumn. If you've seen Kyoto's gardens you could skip Shukkei-en; if not, be sure to go. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] ¥350 for entry - [ ] Last entry 16:30 in winter - [ ] Carp food - [ ] Hiroshima Castle nearby - [ ] Lunch at Okonomi-mura ## Gardens and parks: compare and choose Gardens and natural sights rated by YesGo. - [Shukkei-en Garden](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima/shukkei-en) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ¥350 - [Daisho-in Temple](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima/daisho-in) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · free - [Mount Misen](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima/mount-misen) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · trails free; ropeway ≈ ¥2,000 return ## Hiroshima in half a day Hiroshima Castle and the Ninomaru in the morning, then Shukkei-en Garden, and okonomiyaki at Okonomi-mura for lunch. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Hiroshima Castle](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima/hiroshima-castle) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free (keep closed) 2. [Shukkei-en Garden](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima/shukkei-en) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ¥350 3. [Okonomi-mura](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima/okonomi-mura) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · free entry; okonomiyaki ≈ from ¥1,000 ## Good to know Shukkei-en in Hiroshima is not Kenroku-en in Kanazawa or other Japanese gardens. It is also written Shukkeien. ## Tips - Schoolchildren get in free. - Walk all the way round the pond. - Carp food is sold at the entrance. - November — red maples. - Nearby: [Hiroshima Castle](https://yesgo.io/japan/hiroshima/hiroshima-castle). ## Questions ### How much is entry to Shukkei-en? ¥350 for adults, ¥150 for university students, free for schoolchildren. ### What are the opening hours? 9:00–17:00 from 16 September to 15 March, 9:00–18:00 from 16 March to 15 September. ### When is it closed? Only on 29–31 December. ### When was the garden laid out? In 1620, for the Asano lords. ### How do I get there? 15 minutes on foot from Hiroshima Station, or tram to Shukkeien-mae. ### How long do you need? 45 minutes to an hour. ### What does the name mean? 'Garden of shrunken scenery'. ### What's nearby? The Prefectural Art Museum and Hiroshima Castle. ## How we checked Hours, prices, closing days and access are from the garden's official site. The history, creator and layout are from Wikipedia; we don't cover 20th-century events. Carp food and the tea house are from guides. ## Sources - Garden official site (shukkeien.jp) — seasonal hours, prices, closing days, address, water taxi (checked 09.11.2026) - English Wikipedia: Shukkei-en — 1620, Ueda Soko, the Asano lords, West Lake, Koko-kyo bridge - Travel guides — carp food, tea house (unofficial) - Wikidata Q2576732 — coordinates --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.