「縮景園・冬」広島県広島市

池泉回遊式庭園（築山林泉式）の大名庭園。元和６年（1620年）に広島藩初代藩主・浅野長晟（あさのながあきら）が上田宗箇に命じて築庭された庭園を起源とし江戸時代を通じて改修、明治時代末期１９００年代初期に京都の庭師・清水七郎右衛門による大改修を経て現在の姿になった。1940年に浅野家より広島県に寄贈された。1945年の原爆投下による甚大なる被害を乗り越え、2020年、築庭400年を迎えた。

敷地の20%を占める汽水湖「濯纓池（たくえいち）」の中央を石橋アーチ橋が二分している。これは7代藩主・浅野重晟（あさのしげあきら）が古代中国の西湖堤を模して縮小し作らせた跨虹橋（ここうきょう）。園の名称「縮景園」はこの橋によるものが大きい。このようにう異国や日本の景勝地を縮小して庭に再現し、疑似体験ツアーを楽しむ趣向は江戸時代の大名庭園に多い特徴で「縮景式庭園」と呼ばれる。

縮景園には入口正面に建つ凛とした武家書院風の外観を持つ茶室「清風館」はじめ建物が多い。それらは原爆により消滅したためすべて戦後に再建されたもの。なかでも印象的なのは東側の水辺に建てられた水亭「悠々亭」だろう。水面に影を落とす大きな入母屋造の茅葺き屋根は牧歌的で穏やかな風景を生み出している。かってここでは歌会や茶会が行われていた。1969年再建。他にも牛舎の車輪を窓にはめ込んだ「明月亭」や茶室や四阿などが園内に点在する。

「縮景園」では冬季を迎える頃に樹木の菰巻き（こもまき）を行っている。松だけでなくソテツにも菰巻きを行うのは京都以西では大変珍しく、日本の伝統園芸の踏襲にも配慮している。冬は寒牡丹、春は桜、秋は紅葉の名所として多くの来園者で賑わう。

❊管理者の松浦雄二が撮影した縮景園の写真がSukiya Livingの表紙を飾りました。

◼︎名称：「縮景園」

◼︎住所：広島市中区上幟町2-11

◼︎TEL: 082-221-3620

◼︎営業時間：3月16日〜9月15日(9:00~18:00)、 9月16日〜3月15 (9:00~17:00)

◼︎休園日：12月29日～12月31日

◼︎駐車場：有り（有料）

◼︎アクセス：(1)広島駅から徒歩で15分。

(2)広島駅からバスで5分（「旭町」行きバスで「縮景園入口」下車）

(3)八丁堀から路面電車で10分（「白島」行きで「縮景園前」下車）

"Shukkeien" Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Pref.

Chisen kaiyu shiki teien (Tsukiyama Rinsen style) Daimyo garden. The garden originated in 1620, when the first lord of the Hiroshima domain, Asano Naga-akira, ordered Soko Ueda to build it, and it was renovated throughout the Edo period.In the late Meiji period and early 1900s, Shimizu Shichiroemon, a gardener in Kyoto, created the garden. It took on its current appearance after extensive renovations by Uemon. It was donated to Hiroshima Prefecture by the Asano family in 1940. The garden overcame severe damage caused by the atomic bombing in 1945, and celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2020.

A stone arch bridge bisects the center of Takueichi pond, a brackish water pond that occupies 20% of the park grounds. This is the Rainbow Bridge, which was built by Shigeaki Asano, the 7th feudal lord, and was scaled down to imitate the West Lake embankment in ancient China. The name of the garden, ``Shukkeien'', is largely due to this bridge. This idea of recreating scenic spots from foreign countries or Japan on a smaller scale in the garden to enjoy a simulated experiential tour is a common feature of feudal lord gardens during the Edo period, and is called a ``shukkei-style garden.''

Shukkeien has many buildings, including the tea room ``Seifukan,'' which stands in front of the entrance and has a samurai shoin-style exterior. All of them were rebuilt after the war because they were destroyed by the atomic bomb. One of the most impressive is the water bower ``Yuyuutei'' built on the waterfront on the east side. The large thatched roof of the Irimoya roof casts a shadow on the water surface, creating an idyllic and calm landscape. Poetry gatherings and tea parties were once held here. Rebuilt in 1969. There are also ``Meigetsu-tei'' (meigetsu-tei) with cowshed wheels fitted into the windows, tea rooms, and gazebos dotted around the park.

At Shukkeien Garden, around the time of winter, tree trunks are wrapped in sheets of straw (komomaki). It is extremely rare to perform komomaki not only on pines but also on cycads west of Kyoto, and Shukkeien is mindful of following traditional Japanese gardening practices.

The park is crowded with many visitors as it is famous for its cold peonies in winter, cherry blossoms in spring, and autumn leaves in autumn.

❊A photo of Shukkeien taken by Yuji Matsuura, the administrator of this site, has been featured on the cover of Sukiya Living.

◼︎Name: “Shukkeien”

◼︎Address: 2-11 Kaminobori-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City

◼︎TEL: 082-221-3620

◼︎Business hours: March 16th to September 15th (9:00~18:00), September 16th to March 15th (9:00~17:00)

◼︎Closed days: December 29th to December 31st

◼︎Parking: Available (charged)

◼︎Access: (1) 15 minutes walk from Hiroshima Station.

(2) 5 minutes by bus from Hiroshima Station (take the bus bound for “Asahicho” and get off at “Shukkeien Iriguchi”)

(3) 10 minutes by tram from Hatchobori (bound for Hakushima and get off at Shukkeien-mae)

広島・Hiroshima pref