These are Daimyo gardens built in the Honmaru (inner citadel) and Ninomaru (outer citadel) of the Ako Castle. Both of them have ponds that use ample water from the waterworks of the Chikusa River. This is an important example in which the Honmaru and Ninomaru gardens, found during excavation, have been preserved as a whole. Reconstruction work is currently underway, repairing the excavated remnants.
cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments
type : places of scenic beauty
1 Kamikariya, Akō-shi, Hyōgo-ken 678-0235
Tel：0791-43-6962
Home page : www.ako-hyg.ed.jp/bunkazai/akojo/index.html
The gardens at the Ako-jo ruins are Daimyo gardens preserving Honmaru Garden and Ninomaru Garden as a whole. Honmaru Garden has a large pond at the south of Goten (palace), a small pond of a Tsuboniwa (inner garden) at Nakaoku (where Shogun worked and spent his daily life), and another pond at the north-western corner of the Honmaru. The large pond has a cape, an inlet, a central island, and ornamental stones, and its bottom is decorated with geometrically arranged stone slabs and roof tiles, gravel, etc. The small pond at the Nakaoku Tsuboniwa consists of two small water features aligned in east and west. The water from the small pond is connected to the large pond via a covered conduit. The pond in the north-western corner is oval and dug directly in the ground. Pebbles are laid along its shoreline. Ninomaru Garden is a large scale garden with a large pond. The section near the residence is a flow, while the southwestern section is a grand space where the water is deep and boats can be used.
In Ako, water taken from the upper Chikusa River is supplied to the castle and houses in its town. This water was also supplied to the ponds in the castle.