Oyakuen Medicinal Garden

About

Aizu Matsudaira's Royal Garden featuring the heart-shaped pond and traditional landscape design. Photo by Qwert1234, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Oyaku-en (御薬園), which translates to "Medicinal Herb Garden," is a traditional Japanese landscape garden in Aizuwakamatsu designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese government in 1932. The garden centers around a distinctive heart-shaped pond (Shinji no Ike, shaped like the kanji character for "heart" 心) and features approximately 400 varieties of medicinal herbs and trees cultivated for traditional remedies. 🔗 🔗

Oyakuen Garden represents a unique intersection of samurai culture, traditional medicine, and Japanese landscape design. First established in the 1380s, the garden was maintained as a sacred villa by Ashina Morihisa, the 10th feudal lord of the Ashina clan, in the 1430s. 🔗 The garden's transformation into a medicinal herb cultivation center occurred in 1670 when Hoshina Masatsune, the second daimyō of the Aizu Domain, began cultivating various herbs, notably Korean ginseng, establishing the garden's identity as reflected in its name given in the 18th century. 🔗

The current landscape design, created by Edo period-trained landscape architect Meguro Jotei, exemplifies traditional Japanese garden principles by showing "nature in miniature." The garden features the distinctive heart-shaped pond with carefully cultivated greenery, winding paths, small stone bridges, and miniaturized waterfalls. The Ochayagoten tea house, dating from the Muromachi period, served as the venue where feudal lords entertained visiting nobles. 🔗 🔗

Today, the garden maintains approximately 400 kinds of medicinal herbs and trees passed down through generations, continuing the Aizu Domain's tradition of medicinal plant knowledge. The garden showcases seasonal beauty year-round, with tree peonies in spring, lotuses in summer, Japanese anemones and spectacular autumn foliage from maple trees in fall, and snow-covered landscapes in winter. 🔗 🔗

Cultural & Historical Significance

Samurai Medicine and Domain Healthcare: The garden's transformation in 1670 under Hoshina Masatsune reflects the Aizu Domain's sophisticated approach to public health and welfare. The daimyō's initiative to cultivate medicinal plants—particularly Korean ginseng, a rare and valuable herb—demonstrated the domain's commitment to protecting citizens from epidemics and illness. 🔗 This was expanded to encourage private citizens to grow medicinal plants, establishing a domain-wide pharmaceutical system that was remarkably progressive for its time. 🔗

Traditional Japanese Garden Philosophy: Designed by Meguro Jotei, the garden exemplifies the principle of "shukei" (縮景)—showing nature in miniature. Every element, from the placement of rocks to the pruning of trees, is carefully orchestrated to create idealized natural landscapes at a reduced scale. The heart-shaped pond, winding paths, stone bridges, and miniaturized waterfalls work together to evoke mountains, valleys, and rivers within a compact space. 🔗

Feudal Lord's Entertainment Venue: The Ochayagoten tea house, dating from the Muromachi period (1336-1573), served as the exclusive venue for the feudal lord and his noble guests. This historic structure embodies the refined cultural sophistication of the samurai class, where political discussions were conducted amid tea ceremony rituals and aesthetic contemplation. 🔗

Living Pharmaceutical Heritage: The 400 varieties of medicinal herbs maintained here represent over 350 years of continuous botanical knowledge transmission. The garden serves as a living archive of traditional Japanese medicine (kampo), preserving plant varieties and cultivation techniques that have been passed down through generations since the Edo period. 🔗

Government Recognition: The garden's designation as a Place of Scenic Beauty in 1932 by the Japanese government acknowledges its exceptional historical and cultural value, placing it among Japan's most important traditional landscapes worthy of preservation. 🔗

Visiting Information

Operating Hours:

• 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM daily (last entry 4:30 PM)
• Open year-round, no closing days 🔗

Admission:

• Garden only: ¥330
• Garden with tea: approximately ¥500 (includes Japanese green tea and confection at Ochayagoten)
• Combination ticket: ¥730 (includes Oyakuen Garden, Tsuruga Castle, and Rinkaku Teahouse) 🔗 🔗

Access:

From Aizuwakamatsu Station:

• Aizu Loop Bus (Recommended):
  • Haikara-san bus (green bus) runs counter-clockwise
  • Akabe bus (red bus) runs clockwise
  • Buses run once every 30 minutes
  • Stop: "Oyakuen Mae" or "Oyakuen" bus stop (30 minutes from station)
  • Bus stop location: 1 minute walk from garden entrance
  • Fare: ¥210 per ride
  • One-day free pass: ¥500 (recommended if taking buses more than twice) 🔗 🔗

By Car:

• 15 minutes from Ban-etsu Expressway Aizuwakamatsu IC exit
• Parking available on-site 🔗

Current Status: Open and operating normally

• Herbal tea making experience available on second Sunday of each month (9:30-11:30 AM, advance reservations required, ¥8,125 per person)
• Reservations: 0241-22-0533 (Japanese only) 🔗

The Experience

Heart-Shaped Pond (Shinji no Ike): The garden's centerpiece is a distinctive pond shaped like the kanji character for "heart" (心), designed to show nature in miniature following traditional Japanese garden principles. A winding path around the pond provides the optimal viewing experience, with small stone bridges and miniaturized waterfalls enhancing the landscape. The pond's reflective surface creates stunning mirror images of surrounding trees and architecture, particularly photogenic during autumn foliage season. 🔗

Medicinal Herb Garden: Approximately 400 varieties of medicinal herbs and trees are cultivated throughout the grounds, representing both native Japanese plants and imported species. This living collection continues the 600-year tradition of medicinal plant cultivation that dates back to the Aizu Domain's efforts to protect citizens from epidemics in the mid-17th century. Notable specimens include Korean ginseng, first cultivated here in 1670 by Hoshina Masatsune. Informational markers throughout the garden provide educational context about traditional medicinal uses. 🔗 🔗 🔗

Ochayagoten Tea House: This historic tea house, dating from the Muromachi period, originally served as the exclusive venue for the feudal lord and his guests. Visitors can experience sitting in this historic structure while sipping herbal tea and enjoying views over the pond—a particularly atmospheric experience according to visitor reviews. The tea service includes Japanese green tea and traditional confections for approximately ¥500, offering an authentic taste of how the Aizu lords entertained their noble visitors. 🔗 🔗

Seasonal Beauty:

• Spring: Tree peony blooms create brilliant displays
• Summer: Lotus flowers bloom in the pond
• Autumn: Spectacular red maple foliage and Japanese anemone (peak late October to early November)
• Winter: Snow-covered landscape with serene atmosphere 🔗

On-Site Facilities: The garden includes the Ochayagoten tea house, a souvenir shop offering locally-made herbal products and traditional crafts, and a dining room. 🔗

Practical Visiting Tips

Optimal Timing:

October Visit (Oct 21-23, 2025):

• Weather: Daytime temperatures around 17°C (63°F), cooling to 7°C (45°F) at night; expect moderate rainfall with approximately 19 rainy days and 103mm total precipitation 🔗
• What to Wear: Long-sleeved shirts, sweater or hooded jacket, light scarf, waterproof jacket or umbrella for rain, comfortable walking shoes suitable for wet paths
• Foliage Status: Peak or near-peak autumn colors expected with vibrant red maple foliage throughout the garden; Tohoku region experiences autumn colors earlier than Tokyo or Kyoto 🔗

November Visit (Nov 9-18, 2025):

• Weather: Daytime temperatures around 12°C (54°F), dropping to 4°C (39°F) at night; November is the driest month with moderate rainfall around 95mm 🔗
• What to Wear: Thermal long-sleeve shirts (Uniqlo HEATTECH recommended), fleece sweaters or lightweight down jackets, medium-weight wind-resistant outer jacket, wool scarves, hats, gloves, warm waterproof walking shoes
• Foliage Status: Late autumn colors with fewer crowds; some trees may have lost leaves by mid-November, but garden's evergreens and landscape structure remain photogenic; earlier November dates (9-11) more likely to catch remaining fall colors

Best Time of Day:

• Early morning (8:30-10:00 AM): Best for peaceful atmosphere and better photography lighting; fewer tourists; optimal for pond reflections
• Weekdays: Significantly fewer tourists than weekends
• The garden is described as a "quiet stroll" destination with generally manageable crowds 🔗

Photography Conditions:

• Morning light: Best for capturing reflections in the heart-shaped pond
• Autumn foliage: Particularly photogenic with red maples contrasting against the pond and traditional architecture 🔗
• Tea house views: Ochayagoten provides excellent foreground for pond compositions
• No specific photography restrictions mentioned in visitor reviews

Best Photo Spots:

• Heart-shaped pond from various angles around the walking path
• Ochayagoten tea house with pond reflections
• Autumn maple colors against traditional architecture
• Medicinal herb garden sections with informational markers
• Stone bridges and miniaturized waterfalls

Money-Saving Options:

• Combination ticket (¥730): Best value if visiting Tsuruga Castle and tea house in the same day 🔗
• One-day bus pass (¥500): Essential for visiting multiple Aizu attractions via loop bus 🔗
• Skip the paid tea service and bring your own refreshments to enjoy on garden benches (if available)

Cultural Etiquette:

• Remove shoes before entering tea house
• Stay on designated paths to protect cultivated herb gardens
• Speak quietly to maintain tranquil atmosphere
• Ask permission before photographing people, especially at tea house
• Do not pick or disturb medicinal plants
• Follow traditional Japanese garden etiquette: appreciate the designed views from designated spots
• As a designated Place of Scenic Beauty, stay on paths and follow all posted guidelines 🔗

Cultural Experience Enhancement:

• Reserve the monthly herbal tea making experience (second Sunday, 9:30-11:30 AM) if schedule permits 🔗
• Take tea at Ochayagoten for the full historical atmosphere (highly recommended by visitors) 🔗
• Read about medicinal herb uses on garden signage to appreciate the Aizu Domain's pharmaceutical heritage
• Visit the souvenir shop for locally-made herbal products and traditional crafts

Nearby Attractions & Integration

Oyakuen Garden serves as an ideal middle stop when walking between Tsuruga Castle and Aizu Bukeyashiki, offering a peaceful respite between major historical attractions. The Aizu Loop Bus system (Haikara-san green bus and Akabe red bus) efficiently connects all major Aizuwakamatsu attractions, making a full-day itinerary straightforward. 🔗 🔗

Suggested Half-Day Itinerary:

1. Morning: Tsuruga Castle (9:00-11:00 AM)
2. Mid-day: Oyakuen Garden with tea experience (11:30 AM-1:00 PM)
3. Afternoon: Aizu Bukeyashiki (1:30-3:30 PM)

Transportation: Use the ¥500 one-day bus pass for unlimited loop bus rides 🔗

Nearby Historical Sites:

Tsuruga Castle (Tsurugajo) - 10-15 minutes walk from Oyakuen Garden 🔗

• Major samurai-era castle with museum
• Also features beautiful autumn foliage
• Combination ticket available (¥730 includes castle, Oyakuen, and tea house) 🔗

Aizu Bukeyashiki (Samurai Mansion) - Walking distance, halfway between Tsuruga Castle and Oyakuen 🔗

• Reconstructed samurai residence complex
• Provides cultural context for the feudal lords who maintained Oyakuen
• Served by same Haikara-san and Akabe loop buses

Higashiyama Onsen - Traditional hot spring resort area

• Accessible via Aizu loop buses
• Ideal for post-sightseeing relaxation

Thematic Integration: The garden represents the intellectual and cultural sophistication of the Aizu Domain, complementing the military history presented at Tsuruga Castle and the lifestyle context provided by Aizu Bukeyashiki. Understanding the domain's pharmaceutical traditions adds depth to appreciation of samurai culture beyond martial aspects. The garden demonstrates how the Aizu lords combined practical healthcare initiatives with aesthetic refinement, embodying the ideal of the cultured warrior-administrator.

Location: View on Google Maps

Source: attractions/aizuwakamatsu/oyakuen-medicinal-garden.md