Hiroshima Prefecture

At the heart of Hiroshima is Shukkeien — a traditional garden whose name means “shrunken scenery.” Not only is the location ideal for when you want a break from busy city life, the features like miniature forests, mountains, and valleys, as well as the several teahouses where you can enjoy the views, make this the perfect traditional garden. The History of Shukkeien The first lord of Hiroshima, Asano Nagaakira, and the tea master Ueda Soko commissioned Shukkeien Garden in 1620, soon after Hiroshima Castle was completed. It was a private place of respite for centuries and only opened to the public in 1940. However, visitors could enjoy the original garden for just five years. After surviving the air raids of World War II, it was hit by the atomic bomb, which burned the trees to the ground and destroyed the buildings. One feature that did survive is Kokokyo Bridge, which is now more than 240 years old. After the war, the rebuilding of Hiroshima began. Reconstruction of Shukkeien started in 1949 and included planting camphor trees, which grow rapidly for the first few years of their life. By 1951, the garden was ready to reopen and saw big crowds. Ever…