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Tea Room ／ Within Genkyūen, a Scenic Spot
Hōshōdai
ほうしょうだい
A tea pavilion on a low hill in Genkyūen, the Hikone lords' garden, said to have been built for entertaining guests. Lost to fire in 1975 and rebuilt in 1977, it now serves matcha.
Hōshōdai stands in Genkyūen, the pond-stroll garden laid out in 1677–1679 by the fourth Hikone lord Ii Naooki. Genkyūen was the rear garden of the lords' lower residence, Keyaki Goten (today's Rakurakuen), and is designated a Scenic Spot.
It comprises eight buildings centred on two small rooms, Hōshōdai and Rinchikaku. Set on a low hill, it overlooks the pond's islands and the nine bridges across its inlets. It is said to have been built for the lord to entertain guests, and the castle keep can be seen in the opposite direction from the garden. Hōshōdai and other buildings burned in 1975 and were rebuilt in 1977.
It is one of the Ten Views of Genkyūen depicted in the Edo-period garden picture. The hanging scroll in the tokonoma changes with the season and is in the hand of Ii Naoyoshi, 16th head of the family.
How to experience itVisit & use
With 12 seats, it serves a matcha set with a sweet (¥1,000). Group bookings are accepted, except on weekends, holidays, and after 11:00 (or all day) on busy weekdays.
Visitor informationInformation
| Address | Genkyūen, Hikone Castle, Hikone, Shiga |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00–16:00 (last order 15:50) |
| Closed | Open daily |
| Price | Matcha set with sweet ¥1,000 |
| Contact | Hikone Castle Management Center, 0749-22-2742 |
Sources (checked 2026年10月)
Tea Room
Interior
Garden
Images are placeholders — no photographs of the cultural properties are shown
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