Top Things to do in Chugoku
Top Hotels in Chugoku
10 Gardens in Chugoku That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Chugoku, Japan including Shukkei-en Garden, Okayama Korakuen Garden, Matsue Vogel Park, Adachi Museum of Art, Wakunaga Manji Memorial Garden, Hiruzen Herb Garden Herbill, Yuushien Garden, Ogawa Kesseshutei Garden, Hori Teien Garden, Fuji Park.
Restaurants in Chugoku
1. Shukkei-en Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,083 reviews
This 17th-century miniature landscape garden was restored after its destruction in 1945, and contains a pond, streams, islets and bridges.
Reviewed By BZimm08 - Iwakuni, Japan
I love Hiroshima, there are always new attractions to explore. I saw Shukkei-en Garden on a map, and decided to check it out. It is not far from the main train station, so it is a must. I highly recommend adding this to your itinerary. The entrance was pretty cheap, around 260 yen a person. You need at minimum an hour here as there are trails and interesting historical markers worth reading, not to mention many photo spots and places to relax and enjoy the beauty. Japan seems to have varieties of flowers that bloom at different times of the year, so anytime is a good time to visit. The pond in the center is lovely and is full of beautiful koi fish among other species and lots of adorable turtles. These gardens are a must when visiting Hiroshima.
2. Okayama Korakuen Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,709 reviews
In 1687, daimyo (feudal lord) Ikeda Tsunamasa ordered his vassal Tsuda Nagatada to begin the construction of a new garden. The groundwork took 13 years until 1700, but since then the garden has retained most of its original appearance across the Edo period (1603-1868) until the present day. The garden was used as a retreat for the daimyos as well as a place for entertaining their guests, although people of the fiefdom too could visit it on certain occasions. As time went by, successive daimyos slightly modified the garden adding and removing hills, lawns, ponds and buildings, but the initial concept of Korakuen as a wide, bright space offering beautiful inner and outer vistas remained constant and unaltered. In 1884, the ownership of Korakuen was transferred to Okayama Prefecture and the garden was opened to the general public: since then it is carefully managed as a historical cultural asset to be passed down to future generations.
Reviewed By 798ellenr - Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Canada
We stopped here on a day trip from Kyoto to Hiroshima on the Shinkansen. It is one of the three great Japanese strolling gardens and even in the rain it was magnificent with its plum blossoms, lake, rice fields, camellia garden and more. We saw Geisha strolling and a view of the adjacent castle.It was magical!
3. Matsue Vogel Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 183 reviews
Reviewed By 719karenj - Colorado Springs, United States
You know about those YouTube/Facebook videos of penguins dressed up and walking around? THIS IS THE PLACE! Six years ago, we visited Matsue Vogel Park just as they were closing. We ran through it and thought it was amazing. They greet you with near floor to ceiling flowers! This time, we admired their new building, used our passports to get a discount, and made sure to have lots of time. You start with the most amazing really, really long and steep slidewalk. Our friends helped us to get to almost every "show" and I got to (pay to) have a bird of prey fly to my arm and get lots of photos together, find the koi with the happy face on it's head, take lots of pictures of dressed up penguins, (pay to) hold a penguin (because who knew it was on my bucket list), (pay to) get a bird to pick a fortune for my husband (it was good), and (pay to) feed turacos, toucans, and whatever that other bird was. The free bird shows were great. There were lots of flowers and animals to look at. At the end, we stopped for some soft cream (soft serve in many flavors). What an amazing day!
4. Adachi Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,045 reviews
Reviewed By nigelf938 - London, United Kingdom
One of the most beautiful formats for a gallery, mixing framed views of perfect, unscaleable Japanese garden design with traditional exhibitions of more recent Japanese artists from 19th and 20th centuries. Feels a bit off the beaten track but don’t miss it!
5. Wakunaga Manji Memorial Garden
6. Hiruzen Herb Garden Herbill
7. Yuushien Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 275 reviews
Reviewed By delphine95 - Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
A wonderfull garden specialized in peonies. It feels very relaxing to walk in these alleys and to enjoy this amazing and big zen garden so well maintened. You can spend easily between 30minutes and one hour to admirate ponds, pine trees, lanterns... and the room of peonies with flowers all year long.
