The Kyokusui Garden was designed for Kyokusui-no-en, a poetic gathering where cups of sake float down a winding stream and participants compose poetry before the cup reaches them.

This custom originated in ancient China and later became popular among Japanese aristocrats.

The Kyokusui Garden is believed to date from the time of Shimazu Yoshitaka, the 21st head of the Shimazu family. In 1736, he introduced moso bamboo from China via the Ryukyu Kingdom, inspired by China’s famous Orchid Pavilion, known for poetic gatherings called Kyokusui-no-en. The garden was likely created around the same time.

Later, the garden was buried beneath a plum grove and forgotten, until it was rediscovered in 1959. Today, it is preserved as a rare and well-preserved example, and each spring, Sengan-en still hosts a traditional Kyokusui poetry ceremony here.