Japan Guide
Shikoku
Ninomaru Shiseki Teien
Looking a bit like a giant geometry puzzle, these tranquil gardens are built on the site of the Ninomaru, the outer citadel of the castle. The pools and pathways at the front of the gardens represent the floor plan of the former structure, which succumbed to fire in 1872. To the rear, as the grounds climb Katsuyama, the design becomes more fluid, with rockeries, a waterfall and two tea-ceremony houses, one of which serves tea and wagashi (a sweet cake) for ¥300. Opening time: Feb– July & Sept– Nov 9am–5pm; Aug 9am–5.30pm, Dec– Jan 9am–4.30pm Opening time: ¥100