There is also a pond garden called “Ueoniwa” (upper garden) and a garden with a teahouse called “Shitaoniwa” (lower garden) at the western side on the lower level. Ueoniwa was built as a southern garden of a shoin (study) parlor. It features three Tsukiyamas and an oval pond on the east side. Shitaoniwa features a teahouse to the north, overlooking the wide pond garden on the south side.
cultural property : historic sites and places of scenic beauty as natural monuments
type : places of scenic beauty
27-20 Tamazatochō, Kagoshima-shi, Kagoshima-ken 890-0012
Tel：099-222-2627
Home page : www.tamazatotei-teien.jp
The garden is located at the west side of Atagoyama, the north hill in Kagoshima city. It is believed to have been built in 1835 by Shimazu Nariakira, the 27th lord of the Simazu Family. At the eastern side of the premises, there is a flat area where a group of main buildings once stood. A pond garden called “Ue-oniwa” (upper garden) was built there, and a garden with a teahouse called “Shita-oniwa” (lower garden) was built at the western side on the lower level. Ue-oniwa was built as the southern garden of a shoin (study) parlor, featuring three Tsukiyama (artificial hills) and an oval pond on the east side. Eroded beach stones were used in the arrangement of the stream flowing into the pond, simulating a mountain stream consisting of multiple branches. The central island is a turtle-shaped rock, which gave the pond its other name of “Kame-no-ike” (turtle pond). The teahouse commands a view of the mountains over trees toward the south. In the Shita-oniwa, a waterfall stream is created symbolizing a gorge on the east side of the teahouse, from which it flows around the southeast corner of the teahouse, goes under the big natural stone bridge, and becomes a waterfall flowing into the pond. The garden has a unique design, such as the central island, boulders, and a dozen of stone lanterns.