The cherry blossom is just starting to bloom (1st April) and the gardens were busy but not too full. A reasonable entry fee and you can pay an extra 100¥ for carp food. A lot of the fish weren't interested in the food I threw in but a couple did. For a 100¥ it was a fun little extra Lovely manicured lawns and good English signage across the gardens at different points of interest

We did this as part of a tour package arranged through our cruise line (princess). We arrived at the gardens early, and in true Japanese efficiency, they wouldn't let us in before 9am. The bonus was we were the first in, so it wasn't crowded at all. Even so, 45 mins was a good amount of time to see what we wanted. The gardens are so beautiful. Much better than the Japanese gardens we visited in Vancouver. Certainly worthwhile to visit when in Hiroshima.

Shukkeien Garden is one of Hiroshima's most beautiful gardens, designed way back in 1620 by a famous tea master with elements symbolizing oceans, mountains, valleys, and forests. Here are graceful bridges, tea houses, and stone lanterns, and the garden is so picturesque that it's where couples come to immortalize their moments for posterity. Located just 1 km from the epicenter of the atomic bomb, the garden was understandably severely damaged. However, the resilient Japanese managed to restore Shukkeien to its former glory just a few years after the war. Naturally, today the lovely garden houses a memorial for the city's innocent victims of the atomic bomb. The horrors of that time are thus enveloped in timeless beauty, making them almost bearable.

This is the Asano family's daimyo garden. From Hiroshima Station, take the circular bus and get off in front of the Prefectural Art Museum. It's a short walk away. You can also enter the garden from the Prefectural Art Museum. The garden is large and has some elevation changes, but it still retains the appearance of a daimyo garden. There were many foreign tourists. After the tour, the bus time didn't work for me, so I checked and found out it was about 25 minutes to Hiroshima Station, so I walked there. Admission to the Prefectural Art Museum permanent exhibition and Shukkeien Garden is free for people over 65 years old.

These lovely gardens are located a ten minute walk from both Hiroshima JR station and the castle. We discovered that the gardens were built around 1620 and had been a place of refuge for many after the A bomb. It was a beautiful man-made setting and it had a real botanic garden feel, but it only supported indigenous fauna. There was a small pagoda at one end and a structure called the bridge between heaven and earth crossing the middle. At several sites along this walk we found hungry carp to feed for a 100 yen. On the far side are some rough stone steps up and down that led to a charming bamboo grove at the end. Overall a peaceful setting.

What an amazing place; it seems that just because it is situated in an exotic place it must be amazing. Far from it. Shukkeien translated into English means shrunken-scenery garden. The gardens represent the scenery of Japanese terrain in miniature. The gardens are set around a central lake and have been in existence for over 400 years are based on Lake Xihu (West Lake) in Hangzhou, China. The gardens served as refuge after the bombing of Hiroshima. The family owned gardens were donated to the City and after considerable renovations opened to the public. The gardens resembles valleys, mountains, and forests landscapes of Japan. Meandering around the garden are different footpaths that take the visitor along the different landscapes and provide a variety of perspectives. There are different routes to follow, each with branching paths and little side paths to explore. Taking our time and slowly strolling around, enjoying the pleasant views and relaxing at one of the tea houses. Central to Shukkeien Garden is the pond, and the points of view one gets to enjoy while walking around it. Within the pond are countless Koi (carp) that visitors can feed for a small fee. The garden can be visited year round and is especially beautiful during the spring, in the Sakura period when all the cherry blossoms bloom is out and in autumn when the garden turns a stunning red and brown, and is spectacularly lit up after dark.

Beautiful, relaxing and easy to manage park in the middle of Hiroshima. The entrance is a bit hidden in a side street. At cherry blossom time, you can also visit the park illuminated in the evening. Then the cash register is located in a building to the left of the park entrance during the day. The park offers beautiful planting, romantic paths and a small mini bamboo forest. For a few yen you can buy koi food. However, most of the already well-fed carp are actually full (a state that our koi somehow never reach at home ...) and you already have to look for a place where you can still find fish with appetite. Two packets per family or one packet per pair is probably enough. For the park you have to pay admission, but this is really very manageable in price. Very good opportunity to take it easy in hectic and noisy Japan and relax.

The Shukkei-en Garden is just a short walk ~10 minutes from the Hiroshima Castle. You may purchase the entrance ticket inside the Prefectural Art Museum. Note if you are 65 years old or more, it is free entrance to the Shukkei-en Garden & Prefectural Art Museum. They both close by 5p.m. Get your eki stamp of the Art Museum next to the Ticket counter's left side as you face it. The Shukkei-en Garden is a very scenic place that includes many small Japanese bridges and ponds that are filled with Japanese turtles and colorful koi (carp). There are plenty of hidden gardens such as a bamboo grove, miniature temple/torii gate, gingko grove, etc. We took the scenic route to walk around the garden. Very well kept Japanese garden that is nice to stroll and relax in as there is an authentic feel to it. Allow yourself at least an hour to visit Shukkein-en Garden, of course , depending on what season you visit as I'm sure during the Spring, the cherry blossoms will draw a crowd and fall colors as well.

Extraordinary park. You wouldn't expect it in the middle of town. Big too. Note, many stairs that are not all equally easy. (For the slightly older among us)). Sufficient explanation in English. The kois begging for a bite. Very rewarding became.

We visited this garden on November 22nd. It was built in 1620 as the garden of the villa of Nagaakira, the then feudal lord. It is a miniature representation of Xihu, the West Lake in Hangzhou, China. It contains about ten small and larger islands. Around the pond are skilfully arranged mountains, valleys, bridges, tea houses and arbors, all connected by a path along which one can walk through the entire garden.