Yoshimizu Garden was conceived as a mountain getaway by Sasaki Hachiuemon in 1781. Construction began on September 17, 1781, and lasted forty days. The main thatched villa was not completed until August of the following year. In January,1783,Shorin'an, a shrine dedicated to the Buddha of healing, Bhaisajyaguru, was moved to the garden from its original location. The garden underwent three major renovations by Kyoto garden designer Shimizu Shichirouemon. The remodeling was completed in 1807.
The pond and surrounding mountains were not altered during the construction of Yoshimizu Garden. Likewize, the thatched hut,Yoshimizu Pavilion, and Shorin'an were placed in such a way that they might harmonize with the existing surroundings. It is said that the best place from which to appreciate the garden is from the Yoshimizu Pavilion balcony, from which you can see Shorin'an on the right and the Ota River in the distance. In 1951, Yoshimizu Garden was designated a prefectural "Scenic Spot".
Yoshimizu Garden is a natural habitat for the Moriao Tree Frog, which has the unique habit of laying its eggs in trees close to the water. In 1952, the garden was designated a prefectural wildlife reserve. Mid-May to mid-July is egg-laying season. At night, four males gather around one female in the branches of trees that protrude over the pond and together they form a bubble-like egg sac. On average,each egg sac contains three hundred eggs. After about a week, the eggs begin to change and drop from the branches into the pond. Two months later, the baby frogs crawl up into the trees. The locals call the white egg sacs "small bags of life."
Yoshimizu Garden is open to the general public the first and second weekend in June for the egg-laying of the Moriao tree frogs and the second weekend in November for the viewing of fall foliage. There is 200 Yen to enter the garden.
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