The garden was modeled after the famous 'Eight Views of Omi' (Omi Hakkei) to honor the Kyogoku family's ancestral home near Lake Biwa.
The garden's pond level fluctuates naturally with the tides because it is connected to the Seto Inland Sea.
The 'Kasamatsu' (umbrella pine) on the grounds is estimated to be several hundred years old and is a symbolic feature of the garden.
The site was designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese government in 1957.
The Marugame Art Museum within the park houses a notable collection of paintings by artists such as Renoir, Picasso, and Chagall.
The garden layout purposefully incorporates the distant view of the Seto Ohashi Bridge and Mount Iino (Sanuki Fuji) into its design.
Nakatsu Banshoen is a historic feudal-era stroll garden established in 1688 by Kyogoku Takatoyo, the second lord of the Marugame Domain. The garden is centered around a large tidal pond connected to the Seto Inland Sea, designed to replicate the scenery of Lake Biwa. It features eight artificial islands linked by various bridges, representing the famous 'Eight Views of Omi.' The site includes the Marugame Art Museum, which specializes in European paintings, and the Hakuho Museum of Pottery. Historically, it served as a villa for the Marugame lords and remains a prime example of the daimyo garden style. The grounds are populated by approximately 1,500 pine trees, including a rare 'kasamatsumatsu' umbrella pine. Visitors can explore the landscape through winding paths that offer changing perspectives of the pond and stone compositions. It remains one of the oldest existing daimyo gardens in the Kagawa Prefecture.
The red wooden bridge connecting the islands provides the most iconic frame for garden photography.
Bring comfortable walking shoes to navigate the gravel paths and stone bridges.
Check the tide schedule if possible, as the water level in the central pond changes significantly throughout the day.
Allocate extra time to visit both the art and pottery museums located within the park boundary.
Do not attempt to feed the koi or birds in the pond, as this disrupts the ecological balance of the garden.
Closed on Wednesdays; if a national holiday falls on a Wednesday, the park is open and will close the following day instead.
Refrain from touching the artwork in the museums and stay on the designated garden paths to protect the moss and vegetation.
