Tachibana Gardens: National Scenic Spot

Located at the southwestern corner of the Yanagawa Castle residential district, the Tachibana Gardens were relocated here in 1738 by Tachibana Sadayoshi, the fifth lord of the Yanagawa Domain, from behind the Ninomaru Palace of Yanagawa Castle, after which they were referred to as the Ohanabatake. The garden was originally situated on the eastern side of the residence, and old maps show that it had a pond and springs that drew water from the moat, rolling man-made hills, a beach and various seasonal trees and shrubs. One can imagine the Lord and his family enjoying the view of the garden from the balcony that jutted over the pond or strolling around the pond to visit the various decorative objects and shrines. The Higashi Garden still evokes an atmosphere of these olden times. The Tachibana Gardens was located on the site of the Tachibana family villa, and later, it served as the house garden for the residence of Count Tomoharu Tachibana, which was built in the Meiji era. Count Tomoharu Tachibana, the 14th head of the Tachibana family, returned to Yanagawa in 1889 and began construction of his residence in 1906. The Western-style Seikyokan, the Ohiroma (large tatami room), the living room, the housekeepers’ quarters, the gatehouse, and Shotoen, a garden designed to provide views of greenery year-round, were all completed 1910 and still stand today. Shotoen features a pond, which draws its water from the moat, decorated with islands and reefs of various sizes and surrounded by more than 200 pine trees. The Ohiroma and living room afford panoramic views of the garden. The 23,000 m2-plus Tachibana Gardens, bordered on all sides by canals, are unique in that they feature the Higashi Garden, which maintains the air of an Edo era feudal lord’s garden, right next to the Shotoen, which exudes the elegance of the Meiji era. As the residence of Count Tachibana and his family until the Showa era, the site is also home to the Tachibana Museum, which features displays of traditional samurai armor, arts and crafts and demonstrates how the 500-year history of the Yanagawa Domain dating back to the time of Tachibana Muneshige, Ginchiyo and Bekki Dosetsu is alive and well today.