Koku-shitei Meishō Kyū Kurushima-shi Teien (Nationally Designated Place of Scenic Beauty, Former Kurushima Clan Garden)

Overview

The Kyū Kurushima-shi Teien is a garden located in Kusada, Kusada-gun, Oita Prefecture. It was built on a hill (Suehiroyama) on the western side of the former Kurushima clan's jin'ya from the Edo period. A large-scale civil engineering project, undertaken concurrently with the construction of a shrine during the time of the eighth feudal lord, Michiyoshi, resulted in the garden's current form. The garden consists of three sections: the Han Shu Go-den Teien (Feudal Lord's Palace Garden), situated on the east-facing slope and base of Suehiroyama and facing the palace; the Seiho-ro Teien (Seiho-ro Garden), surrounding the Seiho-ro building located at the southern end of Suehiroyama; and the Shimizu Go-mon Ochaya Teien (Shimizu Gate Tea House Garden), a section of the moat in front of the Shimizu Gate that has been transformed into a garden. The Han Shu Go-den Teien is a strolling garden featuring artificial hills, ponds, and rock formations located south of the palace. The Seiho-ro Teien, surrounding the Seiho-ro building, features ponds, rock formations, and trees. The Shimizu Go-mon Ochaya Teien incorporates a part of the moat in front of the Shimizu Gate, showcasing ponds, rock formations, and trees. The garden boasts numerous highlights, including the Seiho-ro, an Important Cultural Property of Japan, along with artificial hills, ponds, and rock formations. The Seiho-ro is a two-story wooden building that offers a commanding view of the garden. A variety of plants are also planted throughout the garden, providing beautiful scenery throughout the year. The Kyū Kurushima-shi Teien is a captivating garden, seamlessly blending nature and artistry. Take a stroll through this grand-scale garden and immerse yourself in history.