Yosuien Garden

Yosuien Garden is a sprawling daimyo garden in Wakayama Prefecture, distinguished by its 33,000 square meters of pine-dominated landscapes. Commissioned by Tokugawa Harutomi (the tenth lord of the Kishu Tokugawa family), the garden’s teahouse, Yosuitei, was constructed in 1821 and served as the lord’s personal villa. It is a rare example of such a structure remaining in its original location. Another unique feature of Yosuitei is the Hidari Naname Nobori Rōka, a rare, inclined corridor. The corridor is ingeniously designed to ascend at a leftward angle. Consequently, all of its architectural elements, including the tatami mats and shōji paper screens, are distinctive parallelograms rather than the typical rectangles.
A tidal pond forms the garden’s centerpiece, circulating seawater through water gates to create an ecosystem that attracts fish and migratory birds. The garden’s landscape incorporates Chinese elements, including its Chinese-style Taiko Bridge, which was modeled after the famous West Lake in Hangzhou, China.
Visitors can admire cherry blossoms, irises, and Japanese irises in spring, hydrangeas in summer, and colorful foliage in autumn. The pond’s clear winter waters provide excellent viewing of ducks and other wildlife, making the garden a tranquil year-round destination.