Three Great Gardens of Japan: Kairaku-en, Kenroku-en, Koraku-en
Japan is renowned for its gardens that blend a perfect setting of nature, relaxation, and tranquility. There are hundreds if not thousands of Japanese gardens throughout the country. But there are three must-visit gardens in Japan that are considered the most famous. The three Great Gardens of Japan include Kairaku-en in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, Kenroki-en in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, and Koraku-en in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture.
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The Three Great Gardens of Japan are said to be the most beautiful and impressive gardens in all of Japan. These gardens have a historical background, dating back to the Edo Period.
Massive, diverse, unique, traditional, and sometimes minimalistic best describes Japan’s Three Great Gardens.
The Three Great Gardens of Japan include Kairaku-en in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, Kenroki-en, in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, and Koraku-en, in Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture.
Kairaku-en
Kairaku-en, one of Japan’s three famous gardens is located in the city of Mito, in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Kairaku-en has been around since 1842. According to information at the site, Kairaku-en started off as a gardening project by Nariaki Tokugawa, the ninth feudal lord of the Mito Clan.
Originally Kairaku-en was built for feudal lords, warriors, and even commoners.
Today, visitors can walk the park and enjoy the beautiful cherry or plum blossoms when in season, enter Kodokan, or simply relax and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of Kairaku-en.
I visited in the off season and the cherry blossoms were not in bloom. It is supposed to be a spectacular site with hundreds of trees in bloom.
My favorite highlight of Kairaku-en was the bamboo trees.
Admission and Hours
Admission
Kairaku-en Park
Adults – ¥300
Students – ¥150
Kodokan
Adults – ¥400
Students – ¥200
Hours
Kairaku-en Park
Open Daily
6:00 – 19:00
Kodokan
Closed 12/29 – 12/31
9:00 – 17:00
Kenroku-en
Located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture is the beautiful and honestly my favorite of the three gardens, Kenroku-en.
Kenroku-en used to be the gardens attached to the famous Kanazawa Castle.
Kenroku-en is hundreds of years old and was owned by the Maeda Clan until the 1840’s. In 1870, Kenroku-en was open to visitors.
Kenroku-en is my favorite garden for several reasons. This one actually feels like a traditional Japanese garden. There are various parts to the garden, with gorgeous open ponds, small streams, tea houses, and spectacular old trees that are worshipped and full of supports.
It is recommended to visit a tea house while at Kenroku-en. The setting is phenomenal and the green tea makes for a traditional Japanese experience.
Admission and Hours
Admission
Admission for Kenroku-en is ¥320
Hours
Open Daily
7:00 – 18:00 (March to October 15)
8:00 – 17:00 (October 16 to February)
Koraku-en
The final Great Garden of Japan is Koraku-en. Koraku-en is in the city of Okayama in Okayama Prefecture.
Koraku-en was built by Ikeda Tsunamasa, the lord of Okayama at the time in 1700. The garden was created as a place to really relax and unwind.
Koraku-en is most famous for its rolling hills, ponds, and tea houses covering a total of 133,000 square meters.
Koraku-en is in a beautiful location, right behind Okayama Castle. The castle is perched on a hill and can be seen from the garden. There are many lantern festivals that take place here, so it’s great to visit at night.
Make sure to visit the Okayama Korakuen Garden website for a list of events and additional information.
Admission and Hours
Admission
Individual Ticket – ¥410
Combined Ticket that includes Okayama Castle – ¥640
Hours
Open Daily
7:30 – 18:00 (March 20 to September 30)
8:00 to 17:00 (October 1 to March 19)
Conclusion
The Three Great Gardens of Japan, Kairaku-en, Kenroki-en, and Koraku-en are impressive Japanese gardens that are well worth visiting. Each garden is unique in its own way and very different meaning visiting each garden a must! These three gardens differ from your traditional Japanese gardens because of their size, historical backgrounds, uniqueness, and variety. The cherry blossoms of Kairaku-en, the beautiful water landscapes of Kenroki-en, and the gorgeous landscapes found at Koraku-en, make the Three Great Gardens of Japan truly incredible.
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4 Comments
Sharyn M
Japan has some beautiful gardens. Good to see you are enjoying them.
zimminaround
Agreed, the gardens are beautiful. Sometimes the smaller ones at temples or in lesser-known places are the best!
Timo Robin Hefti
You did a great job on this blog post!
We love the images of this beautiful garden in Japan.
zimminaround
Thanks Timo!
Have you been to Japan? If not, I highly recommend a visit. Definitely make sure to visit some of the gardens, they are all unique in their own ways.