Bokura Garden is a historic Japanese garden in Okuizumo Town, Shimane Prefecture. Created in the early Edo period, the garden is an important example of the refined culture that developed in a region once prosperous through traditional ironmaking.
Here, the beauty of a carefully designed Japanese garden blends naturally with the surrounding landscape, creating a peaceful setting where visitors can appreciate the connection between nature, history, and the lives of the people who shaped Okuizumo.
The garden is believed to have been created by the Bokura family, a prominent ironmaking family of the early Edo period. Its construction is thought to date from around the Genroku era (1688–1704).
The garden covers approximately 260 tsubo, or about 860 square meters, and is designed as a traditional pond-viewing garden, with a pond forming the central element of the landscape. Its carefully arranged scenery creates an atmosphere of calm and understated elegance.
At the center of the pond is a projecting island that also serves as a tortoise island, a traditional symbol in Japanese garden design. The surrounding water is kept calm, creating a serene reflection of the carefully arranged landscape.
Slightly to the left is a stone arrangement representing a three-tiered waterfall. Above it, groups of upright stones recreate the appearance of a mountainous landscape, demonstrating the sophisticated garden-design techniques of the period.
One of the greatest charms of Bokura Garden is its use of Mount Funtsu as a borrowed landscape. The mountain is regarded as a sacred peak in Japanese mythology and is traditionally associated with the descent of Susanoo-no-Mikoto.
By incorporating the distant mountain into the composition, the garden extends visually beyond its own boundaries. The pond, stone arrangements, and surrounding landscape are carefully positioned so that Mount Funtsu naturally appears in the background.
The result is a distinctive experience in which the garden seems to merge with the vast natural landscape beyond it. This technique, known as shakkei, or “borrowed scenery,” was an important feature of Japanese garden design and reflects the sophisticated aesthetic sensibilities of the period.
The Bokura family was a prominent family that built its wealth through the tatara ironmaking industry that flourished in the Okuizumo region. The family also contributed to the development of the local community.
Bokura Garden therefore represents more than landscape beauty. It is also a cultural heritage site that preserves the history, prosperity, and refined culture of a family whose life was closely connected with the region’s ironmaking tradition.
The Bokura family is said to have maintained connections with the Matsue Domain and invited garden craftsmen from the Kansai region to create the garden. As a result, visitors can see sophisticated design techniques and details that stand out even within this remote mountain setting.
The garden provides a fascinating glimpse into how the wealth generated by traditional ironmaking supported cultural and artistic activities in Okuizumo.
Bokura Garden changes its appearance throughout the year. Fresh greenery in spring, deep green foliage in summer, colorful autumn leaves, and snow-covered scenery in winter each create a different atmosphere.
The peaceful surroundings make it possible to slow down and appreciate the subtle changes of nature. Every season offers a different perspective on the garden and its relationship with the surrounding mountains.
Although the garden may initially appear to have been designed as a strolling garden, it is actually a pond-viewing garden intended primarily to be appreciated from a seated position.
Rather than simply walking through the grounds, visitors are encouraged to pause and take in the carefully composed scenery. Sitting quietly and observing the pond, stone arrangements, plants, and distant mountain allows the garden’s deeper beauty to emerge.
Next to the garden is Tsubakian, a restaurant where visitors can enjoy dishes prepared with local ingredients, including wild mountain vegetables and handmade soba noodles.
The simple, flavorful cuisine reflects the natural richness of Okuizumo. Enjoying a meal made with local ingredients after taking in the peaceful garden scenery is a wonderful way to experience another side of the region’s traditional culture.
By bus: Approximately 15 minutes from JR Izumo-Yokota Station.
Bokura Garden is located in a quiet area surrounded by the natural landscape of the Chugoku Mountains, making it an appealing destination for travelers who want to escape the crowds and spend some peaceful time in nature.
Bokura Garden is a unique cultural landscape where the beauty of traditional Japanese garden design meets the mythology of Mount Funtsu and the history of Okuizumo’s ironmaking tradition.
The carefully arranged pond, stonework, and waterfall create an intimate garden scene, while the distant sacred mountain provides a magnificent natural backdrop. Together, they reveal how Japanese gardens can connect human creativity with the landscape beyond their boundaries.
Take your time, sit quietly, and let your eyes wander from the garden to the mountains. At Bokura Garden, you can experience the peaceful passage of time while discovering the history and natural beauty of Okuizumo.