The Hikone castle was finished in 1622 and 55 years later, Ii Naooki, the fourth lord of Hikone, built near the castle the Genkyu-en garden, inspired by the garden of the detached palace of the Chinese Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. Genkyu-en is a landscape type Japanese garden, with a central pond (with water from the nearby Biwa lake) and 4 islands connected with wooden bridges.

Here is one of the bridges leading to a tea-house, the favorite place for the daimyo and their friends. Today, the tea-house is opened for visitors and anyone can enjoy the perfect landscape and a hot tea… and if you’re a bit romantic (like me…), you can imagine the old times…

Genkyu-en Garden, Hikone

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Hello Kitty Hato Bus and a travel tip