| Suizen-ji Jōju-en | |
|---|---|
| 水前寺成趣園 | |
 Suizen-ji Jōju-en | |
 Interactive map of Suizen-ji Jōju-en | |
| Type | Japanese garden |
| Location | Kumamoto Prefecture,Japan |
| Coordinates | 32°47′28″N130°44′05″E / 32.791092°N 130.734594°E /32.791092; 130.734594 |
| Area | 60,275 square meters |
| Created | 1636 |
Suizen-ji Jōju-en (水前寺成趣園) is atsukiyama[note 1]Japanese garden located within Suizen-ji Park (水前寺公園,Suizen-ji Kōen) in the eastern part of the city ofKumamoto,Kumamoto Prefecture,Japan. It was built during theEdo period by theHosokawa clan, thedaimyō ofKumamoto Domain. It is commonly known as "Suizenji Park". Its area is approximately 73,000 square meters. The garden features an artificial hill which is said to be modeled afterMount Fuji. The gardens were designated a NationalPlace of Scenic Beauty and aNational Historic Site in 1929.[1]
The garden began as achashitsu for theJapanese tea ceremony built around 1636 byHosokawa Tadatoshi, the firstdaimyō of Kumamoto, on the grounds of theZen temple of Suizen-ji. Hosokawa selected this site because of its spring-fed pond, the clean water of which was excellent for tea.[2] A monk named Gentaku was part of the retinue of Hosokawa Tadatoshi when he enteredHigo Province, and he was given this land with a natural spring of water fromMount Aso to construct a temple; however the temple was abandoned around after Gentaku returned to his nativeBungo Province and its land reverted to Kumamoto Domain. During the tenure of Hosokawa Tsunatoshi, the garden was reconstructed into a "strolling garden" with pathways and its artificial hill. It was named "Seishu-en" around this time, after a line from a poem byTao Yuanming. Follwong theMeiji restoration, the garden became property of the central government, but the tea house was burned down and the garden laid waste by the 1877Satsuma rebellion. A group of former retainers of Kumamoto Domain purchased the ruins, and erected aShinto shrine, the Izumi Shrine, which was dedicated to the spirits of the Hosokawa clan. The thatchedKokin-Denju-no-Ma teahouse now on the site was originally a structure inKyoto Imperial Palace, and was relocated here in 1912.[3]
Suizenji Kōen features miniature landscapes, a temple, and small lakes containing largekoi. It is a shorttram ride from the city. Nearby, there are souvenir and snack shops.[citation needed]
