Nestled at the foot of Higashiyama in Aizu, Oyakuen Garden welcomes visitors into a peaceful landscape shaped by centuries of care.

Unlike gardens created purely for visual pleasure, Oyakuen developed as a place of both healing and learning. Its story begins more than 600 years ago at a site known for a natural healing spring. Over time, the garden became a cherished retreat for Aizu’s ruling families. During the Edo period, the Aizu Matsudaira lords refined the grounds into a formal daimyo garden, preserving its sacred atmosphere while shaping it into a space for rest, contemplation, and governance. In recognition of its historical and aesthetic importance, Oyakuen was designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 1932.

What truly distinguishes Oyakuen is its role as a medicinal garden. Established to safeguard the health of the domain’s people, it became a center for cultivating and studying medicinal plants. The successful cultivation of ginseng—later known as Otaneninjin—brought both medical and economic benefits and eventually led to Japan’s first export of medicinal ginseng to China. Today, nearly 400 species of medicinal plants are preserved and displayed, continuing this long tradition of healing. Oyakuen has also endured times of conflict and renewal. During the Boshin War in 1868, the Ochaya-Goten within the garden served as a treatment facility for wounded soldiers, allowing much of the garden to survive the turmoil. In later years, the presence of Chouyou-kaku, a lodging used by members of the imperial family, symbolized Oyakuen’s role in Aizu’s cultural revival after the war. Today, visitors can stroll the serene paths, enjoy matcha and traditional sweets while overlooking the pond, and browse herbal teas and local crafts inspired by the garden. Whether you come for history, seasonal beauty, or quiet restoration, Oyakuen offers a gentle, immersive experience where nature, culture, and well-being come together.