Suizenji Jojuen Garden

Peaceful garden if you come in the morning to beat the tourists. Accessible by tram and only a few minutes walk from the tram station. You can buy koi or pigeon food for 200 yen for small bag or 500 yen one big bag. The mini Mt Fuji is kind of not that impressive but the garden is still nice. There are vending machines and a few public restrooms. We spent about 80 minutes here feeding the koi and pigeons, so expect to spend between 30 minutes to maybe 2 hours here if you enjoy just sitting down and taking in the surroundings. Beware of mosquitoes in the summer because there is standing water.

I went here to relax after a long day. It’s a quiet park with lots of benches around the lake. There aren’t many people around. There’s a shrine inside and some small torii gates. The lake has a lot of fish as well. I saw many cherry trees, so this park must be even more beautiful during cherry blossom season. Entrance fee for adult is 400yen.

Took an easy tram ride on the “A” ¥180 per person let you write off within a block of the gardens. Beautiful maintained gardens really enjoyed the walk around.

A beautiful garden with a shrine inside. It was very quiet with few visitors on a weekday, making it a perfect place to relax and enjoy the views

It is a place you would like to enjoy, quiet. Not too many people, enjoy the peace and meditation. But for some people maybe boring, but it is only 10-15 minutes by tram, it worth to go in my opinion.

This garden dates back to 1632, and is an absolutely beautiful place to visit. Apparently the garden represents the scenery the Shoguns saw on their way from Tokyo to Kyoto (i.e., Mt Fuji, bridges and the lake near Kyoto). The entire property is immaculately presented. Visit the two Shinto shrines. Take endless photos from every angle. Keep an eye out for turtles, koi and birds. Don't forget to pick up a cute Kumamon souvenir.

A beautiful and well-maintained Japanese garden, offering a peaceful escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. The landscape is carefully designed, featuring a large pond, traditional tea houses, and a miniature representation of the Tokaido road, including a small Mt. Fuji. The garden reflects the beauty of Japanese aesthetics, with seasonal flowers adding to its charm. The entrance fee is 400 yen as of March 2025. A great spot to take a relaxing stroll, enjoy and admire the harmony of nature. Enjoy 😎🙏🧘🧘‍♀️

A very well-preserved garden. You can also enjoy the “water of longevity” inside the shrine in the garden.

Gorgeous zen garden in the middle of Kamikoto city. It has two beautiful shrines. The trees are hundred years old and the garden is well maintained and manicured.

Suizenji Jojuen is a Japanese garden that is absolutely gorgeous. We were lucky enough to have gone while cherry blossoms were in bloom, which only added to the awesome landscape. Although a bit far from the main heart of Kumamoto and the castle (maybe 10-15 minutes by rail), it is well worth the trip out there. After making your way through some shops and a couple Kumamon character cut-outs, you will reach the entrance. It only costs 400 yen to get in, and after a few steps, you are met with a large main pond surrounded by hilly areas and trees. Most visitors make their way through the park by going clockwise. Immediately, you will get to see the numerous koi fish (some a very bright yellow-gold color) in the pond, and you can even get food from one of the shops near the entrance to feed them. Soon after, there is a torii gate and Izumi shrine (also the place where you can get your stamp rally stamp if you are into that). Further along, there is a line of torii gates leading to a shrine, which makes for a great photo opp. Towards the middle of the park, there are also some benches to relax as well as a nice view of a hill modeled after Mt. Fujii. It is a super steep hill, and I really wanted to run up and down it, but of course, that would have been disrespectful and wasn't allowed anyway. Continuing along the path, there was a nice glade where a couple of people made hanami spots out of (cherry blossom viewing), as it was surrounded on three sides by some awesome cherry blossom trees. Next time gotta make sure to bring a tarp and Hanami supplies...(usually that area is off limits during non-cherry blossom time...). There is also a Noh theater that I didn't end up going in, and another good view of the pond area from the opposite side of the entrance. Overall, a fantastic place that you can both relax and enjoy some nature appealing to the eye, and a must see in Kumamoto.

Wrapping up my series of Japan reviews, I have saved the best for last. While Kumamoto Castle is the most well known attraction in Kumamoto, Suizen-ji Jōju-en (Suizenji Park) was an unexpected surprise that won my heart. I have been to a couple of Japanese gardens before. Most notably the one in Portland, but not to one in Japan until my visit here. And there is no comparison, Suizenji is absolutely on another level. Suizenji Park is a few stops away on the Kumamoto Tram from Kumamoto Castle so it would make for a good add-on spot when visiting this city. After getting off the Tram, you will need to walk a couple blocks through a residential area to get to the park. In front of the park entrance, you will see a number of Kumamoto souvenir shops selling plenty of Kumamon (city mascot) merchandise. Admission to the garden is ¥400, though there is a discount if you bought a Kumamoto Tram day pass. What makes Suizenji stand out is the scale of the park. It is huge and pristine with the pond being the standout attraction of this garden. The grounds here are a work of art in that it is so well taken care of. I visited in late November so I was able to see this park in all of its glory displayed in the colors of fall. Suizenji is definitely the place in Kumamoto I would come to reflect and relax. Very peaceful place to visit. There is a shrine located on the premises which adds to the zen feel of the garden. Kumamoto Castle may be your main reason for visiting Kumamoto, but Suizenji Park is not to be missed. Especially if you are a fan of Japanese gardens. It is a small piece of tranquility in Kumamoto amidst urban development.