A Floral Sanctuary on Daikonshima Island
Nestled on the volcanic Daikonshima Island in the middle of brackish Lake Nakaumi, Yuushien Garden is one of western Japan’s most celebrated traditional Japanese gardens. Established as a private garden in 1975, the approximately 40,000 square meter grounds feature several traditional landscape elements, including a central pond, waterfalls, streams, stone lanterns and a rock garden, along with a variety of seasonal flowers.
Often called “the miniature garden,” sections of its landscape are modeled after picturesque areas of eastern Shimane, including Mt. Daisen, Oni No Shitaburui Gorge, Hiikawa River and Lake Nakaumi.
The garden’s defining feature is its extraordinary collection of peony flowers. Yuushien’s main attraction is its meticulously tended collection of 250 types of peony flowers. Thanks to carefully timed planting, visitors can see the peonies flower year round in dedicated indoor and outdoor displays. The island itself has deep ties to the flower — about 1.8 million peonies are produced annually on Daikonshima, more than anywhere else in Japan.
Beyond flowers, the island is also known for ginseng. Growing ginseng here in Matsue began as a governmental project over 200 years ago. Visitors can sample ginseng-infused dishes and products at the garden’s shops and restaurants, which offer everything from ginseng tea to ginseng tempura.
Best Times To Visit Yuushien Garden
Yuushien offers something worthwhile in every season, though each time of year has its own distinct character.
The garden is probably most spectacular in spring, when patches of peonies scattered throughout the grounds burst into bloom and an annual Peony Festival is held from late April through May. A particular highlight during Golden Week is the Ikeizumi Botan (pond peony) display, where thousands of peony blooms are floated across the garden’s central pond, creating a breathtaking floral carpet.
Summer brings irises and hydrangea, while autumn sees vibrant maple foliage. Winter peonies bloom during the colder season, gracefully protected from snow by small delicate thatched roofs.
Winter also marks the garden’s spectacular illumination season. From early November until the beginning of January, the park is decorated with hundreds of thousands of lights for a dazzling illumination show. Visitors can take a paper lantern and walk along a path lit by stone lanterns, soaking in the fantastic atmosphere created by the illuminated trees at night.