Nakazu Banshoen was built in 1688 as an annex for the Kyogoku family, the feudal lords of Marugame. Over 1,500 dwarf pines are planted next to the white sand beach and green pines, and in the center of the garden is the Hakkei Pond, which is modeled after Lake Biwa in Omi, the ancestral land of the Kyogoku family.
The "Okasamatsu" (large umbrella pine), said to be about 600 years old, has an overwhelming presence.
You can also dine at the "Kaifutei" restaurant located within the garden.

The adjacent Marugame Museum of Art is a sukiya-style building that blends in with the garden's scenery, and exhibits paintings by the Barbizon School and other works by Japanese painters. It is a space where you can experience the essence of painters who loved nature and were immersed in it. In addition, the Pottery Museum exhibits painted earthenware, pottery, and glassware from around 2500 BC to the 13th century, allowing you to experience the art of the Orient.