Genkyūen

Genkyūen is a strolling landscape garden representing the early Edo period, located northeast of the National Treasure Hikone Castle in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, and designated as a National Scenic Beauty—an exceptionally valuable cultural property. According to tradition, it was constructed in 1677 (Enpo 5) by Ii Naoki, the fourth daimyo of Hikone Domain, and its name is said to derive from the imperial palace "Lishan Palace" built by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang in China. The Ii family, descendants of Ii Naomasa, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Tokugawa, were a prestigious fudai (hereditary vassal) clan, and Hikone Domain with its 300,000 koku was the highest-ranking fudai daimyo domain. This garden, created by the Ii family as a symbol of their prestige, was not merely a garden for appreciation—it was also a venue for the daimyo's reception of guests and conducting government affairs, and a symbolic space embodying the cultural refinement of the samurai class.

At the center of the garden lies a large pond, within which nine scenic spots named "Eight Views of Genkyūen" (echoing the famous "Eight Views of Ōmi") are arranged—including Crane Crest Beach, Trin Pond Pavilion, Spring Wind Enclosure, Phoenix Flight Platform, Reclining Dragon Bridge, Fish Leaping Pond, and Floating Pearl Rock—each named after celebrated Chinese sites and historical tales. Each landscape reflects the worldview of Chinese philosophy and classical poetry, filled with intellectual design that stops visitors' feet and evokes these historical references. The islands of varying sizes floating on the pond are connected by stone and earthen bridges, allowing one to fully appreciate the essence of a strolling garden, enjoying the ever-changing scenery while walking leisurely. The view from the northern shore of the pond is particularly exquisite; the composition incorporating the majestic National Treasure Hikone Castle's donjon as borrowed scenery is widely recognized as a masterpiece of the borrowed scenery technique in Japanese garden design and has been featured in countless postcards and photography collections.

Two structures still remain in the garden: "Rinchi Pavilion" and "Hōsho-dai," which were used by daimyo for tea ceremonies, moon-viewing parties, and entertaining guests. Rinchi Pavilion is a sukiya-style structure built jutting out over the pond, from whose veranda one can gaze upon the donjon reflected in the pond and the sky—a precious experience of reliving the elegant life of an Edo period daimyo. Hōsho-dai is a tea house standing atop a small hill and is now open to the public as a tea pavilion where visitors can enjoy matcha and traditional sweets while gazing upon the garden and Hikone Castle. A bowl of tea amid this spectacular scenery becomes an unforgettable memory of one's journey. The sweets are special confections associated with Hikone Domain, and their refined taste, adorned with the Ii family crest of the mandarin orange, harmonizes beautifully with the atmosphere of the garden.

The charm of Genkyūen is inexhaustible throughout the four seasons. In spring, the Somei Yoshino and weeping cherry blossoms within the garden scatter petals onto the pond's surface, and the competition between donjon and blossoms enchants visitors. In early summer, fresh green foliage and Japanese irises add color, and in autumn, red maples are reflected in the pond, their crimson brilliance casting the white walls of the donjon in vivid relief. In winter, the snow-covered garden displays the serene beauty of ink wash painting, and contemporary travelers can enjoy the same seasonal transitions that the Ii family loved. Particularly noteworthy is the annual autumn "Autumn Brilliance Genkyūen Light-up," where illuminated autumn leaves and the donjon are reflected in the moonlit pond in a fantastical scene, drawing tourists from across the nation as one of Hikone's iconic autumn attractions.

Adjacent to Genkyūen stands Rakuraku-en, formerly the lower villa of the Hikone Domain lords, where visitors can see the extant study hall, Earthquake Room, and Rakuraku Chamber up close—precious remains revealing the private living spaces of the daimyo. In contrast to the grand strolling landscape design of Genkyūen, Rakuraku-en presents the serene architectural beauty of shoin-zukuri style, and visiting both allows for a multifaceted understanding of Edo period daimyo culture. The sightseeing course visiting Hikone Castle donjon, Genkyūen, and Rakuraku-en together offers a half-day to full-day immersion in the world of history and beauty, and is strongly recommended as one of the finest historical exploration spots in the Kansai region.