Fukushū-en Garden 福州園

A Chinese garden

 

Okinawa belongs to the Ryûkyû archipelago, an independent kingdom from the 14th to the 19th century, then fell under the zone of influence of Japan. The Satsuma clan remotely controlled Okinawa's foreign trade, which served as a trading hub between China and Japan amid sakoku , the country's lockdown policy. The Chinese influence was very strong on the archipelago, and it is in particular in his honor that the Fukushû-en garden was built in Naha.

 

 

From Fuzhou to Naha

The Fukushû-en garden was opened in 1992 to celebrate ten years of twinning between Naha and the Chinese city of Fuzhou. It is located in the Kumekura district, a locality known at the time to house the diplomats and bureaucrats of the Ryûkyû kingdom. This community was cradled in Chinese culture and language, the vast majority of them having participated in study trips or diplomatic delegations to Fuzhou. This allowed them to be a privileged interface between Okinawa and China .

 

Jardin de Fukushû-en

Fukushū-en Garden

Wikipedia

 

Discover our individual circuit: Japanese Gardens

If you enter through the east gate, you'll fall almost directly past a waterfall that comes to flow into the pond. A cave has been dug behind and can be explored by apprentice speleologists. Above sits a Chinese-style pavilion which is accessed by steps carved into the rock and which offers a magnificent view of the entire garden.

Also worth visiting: The Okinawa Prefectural Museum

Six-sided Chinese pavilions populate the garden, as well as themed statues and bridges, including the Zodiac Bridge on which the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac are depicted. You will even have the opportunity to end your visit in a building where Chinese paintings are exhibited, and to take a look at a reproduction of the boats that Okinawans used to travel to Fuzhou. Don't miss the opportunity to get lost in this little piece of China!

 

Cascade Fukushû-en

Fukushū-en Garden Waterfall

Wikipedia


Address, timetable & access

  • Address

  • Phone

    +81 98-869-5384
  • Timetable

    10-minute walk from Kencho-mae monorail station
  • Price

    200 yen for children over 12 100 yen for children under 12
  • Access

    Open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Wednesday

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