Oyakuen is the former Aizu Matsudaira clan garden, laid out around a pond east of the castle. It is quieter than the main castle grounds and has an unusual medicinal-herb garden, a reminder that the place was associated with healing as well as leisure.
Come here for a reset between heavier history stops. The paths, tea house, and reflections in the pond make the garden feel older and more intimate than its modest size suggests.