Going to Kumamoto with Kyushu Reconstruction Discount Tickets: Part 6 Suizenji Jojuen Garden

水前寺成趣園(水前寺公園) アイキャッチ画像

[Introduction]

I traveled to Kumamoto using “Kyushu Fukko Wari” (Kyushu Reconstruction Discount Tickets). Since I was impressed with Kumamon (the local mascot character of Kumamoto Prefecture) at Yuru-chara Grand Prix 2016, I decided to visit Kumamoto to see how reconstruction has been moving forward after the strong earthquake. In this article, I will write about Suizenji Jojuen Garden as part of Day 3.

[Visit Places (series of articles)]
* Day 1: Departure for Kumamoto
* Day 2: Kumamoto Castle
* Day 2: Josaien
* Day 2: Kumamon Square
* Day 2: Kumamoto Night View
* Day 3: Kumamoto Suizenji [This article]
* Day 3: Kumamoto Station
* Day 3: Kumamoto Castle (Revisit)
* Day 3: Kumamoto Castle (Evening View)

[Travel Date]
2016.12.22 – 24

[Main Part]

It was the 3rd day of my Kumamoto trip.

New ultra low-floor tram “COCORO”

To begin with, I took a new ultra low-floor tram “COCORO”.Kumamoto COCORO1

“COCORO” has started its operation since October 2014 as part of the 90th anniversary of the opening of Kumamoto City Transportation. The train was designed by Eiji Mitooka, a famous train designer.

Since I planned to take city tram several times today, I bought “Kumamoto City Tram 1 Day Pass”.""

I arrived at “Kami-Kumamoto”, the last station.Kumamoto COCORO2

Since “Kami-Kumamoto” is a terminal station, there was a train base.""

Before the departure to the next destination, I took the interior of “COCORO”.熊本 COCORO 車内

Cockpit of the train.熊本 COCORO 運転席

熊本 COCORO 車内2

I took “COCORO” again and moved to “Suizenji Jojuen Garden”.熊本 COCORO 車内3

Suizenji Jojuen Garden

I reached “Suizenji Jojuen Garden”.水前寺成趣園 くまモン

Suizenji Jojuen Garden is a Momoyama style garden. The garden starated to be constructed in 1636 and took about 80 years to complete. Suizenji Jojuen Garden has been designated a national beauty spot and historical place since 1929.

I entered into the garden.""

What attracted visitors in the garden was a big pond, which was about 10,000 square meter. Suizenji Jojuen Garden was a circuit style garden, so I went around the pond.

Personally, I thought this scenery with pond and stone bridge was the most photogenic spot in the garden.Suizenji Jojuen Garden1

View from the stone bridge.""

With a couple.Suizenji Jojuen Garden2

There was Izumi shrine in the garden.水前寺成趣園 出水神社1

水前寺成趣園 出水神社2

I continued to stroll around the pond.""

""

""

Inari Shrine.水前寺成趣園 稲荷神社1

水前寺成趣園 稲荷神社2

This spot was called “Mt. Fuji”.水前寺成趣園 富士山

Statues of the Hosokawa family, the founder of the garden.水前寺成趣園 細川忠利像 細川藤孝像

A house on the left was called “Kokindenju Room”.水前寺成趣園 古今伝授の間1

This was Noh theater.水前寺成趣園 能楽殿

Now I was about to reach the goal.""

""

The last photo in the garden was takes at “Kokindenju Room” and a tea house.水前寺成趣園 古今伝授の間2

Shopping street near Suizenji Jojuen Garden

After I left Suizenji Jojuen Garden, I walked around the shopping street near the garden.水前寺成趣園 参道

熊本 はやしのいきなり団子

I bought Ikinari Dango (steamed buns with bean jam and sweet potato filling), which was one of the famous local sweets in Kumamoto.Kumamoto Ikinari Dango

Then, I moved to around Kumamoto station and I will write about it in the next article.

[Closing]

That’s it for the article about Suizenji Jojuen Garden as part of Day 3. Suizenji Jojuen Garden is a little bit far from the downtown area of Kumamoto, but I believe it was worth visiting 🙂

In the next article, I will write about Kumamoto station.

[Map]

[Related Link]
Kumamoto Nagomi Tourism Site
Visit Kumamoto – Kumamoto City Official Tourist Guide


Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *