Built by a famous master of the Japanese tea ceremony, Ueda Soko, the Shukkeien Garden from Hiroshima was established in 1620, when Asanu Nagaakira became the daimyo of Hiroshima.
Shukkeien means “shrink scenery garden” and illustrates the builder’s idea of a collection of miniaturized scenic views.

I spent a good half a day in this garden and found that the best spot to contemplate it is the Yuyu-tei, a pavilion located on the shores of the pond. This is how it looks from there, with a view of the Takuei Pond, two of its 10 islands and the Koko-kyo bridge (the name means “straddling rainbow bridge"), which was designed in 1783 by another famous Japanese landscape gardener, Shimizu Shichiroemon from Kyoto:

Shukkeien Garden, Hiroshima

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Japanese Street Scenes, Katsushika