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Kenrokuen Garden

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Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa is a living symbol of the Edo period's elegance and ingenuity, often ranked among Japan's three great gardens. Its name, "Kenrokuen," translates to "Garden of the Six Sublimities," reflecting the ideal landscape characteristics: spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, waterways, and panoramas. This philosophy has guided its design, making it a stunning example of traditional Japanese garden art.

Established in the 17th century as part of the Kanazawa Castle estate, Kenrokuen was opened to the public in 1874. The garden spans approximately 11.4 hectares, creating a lush, expansive space where visitors can lose themselves in natural beauty. The design cleverly uses hills and water sources from nearby rivers to create a varied landscape that includes ponds, streams, waterfalls, and carefully placed bridges.

One of the garden's most photographed features is the Kotojitoro Lantern, set beside the Kasumigaike Pond. Another highlight is the Karasaki Pine, shaped over the years to stretch out elegantly over the landscape. Throughout the year, Kenrokuen changes its appearance, from the snowy, quiet winter scenes to the vibrant burst of cherry blossoms in spring, making every visit a unique experience.

Hours:

7:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Closed: 

No closing days

Available: 

All year

Minimum Age:

All ages are welcome

Fees:

320 yen (free during early admission hours)



The area

Address
1 Kenrokumachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0936, Japan

What other travelers are saying about Kenrokuen Garden

A very well manicured and stunning park that's well worth a visit. It has a very relaxed and quiet feel to it with some nice views of the mountains also. We were lucky enough to catch the early cherry blossom blooms
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Tom Brennan
Mar 24, 2025
Came here in the winter on 12/25/2024. I really enjoyed walking around and seeing all of the unique foliage and arrangements they did for the Garden. Using the map to see the major 13 highlights was pretty interesting. Even though the winter did not have any of the special foliage such as cherry blossoms or fall leaves, the garden was still very impressive. I would definitely come again another season to see how it would change.
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Curtis Chan
Dec 25, 2024
Our favorite gardens in Japan. They sure love their trees there. Most have been carfully changed in years. Beauty all around you. Do spend a few hours enjoying this magical place.
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David Ribovski
Jan 30, 2025
Today, visiting this beautiful garden felt like stepping into a snowy winter fairy tale 🤍. When it gets cold, there are cozy spots to rest and warm up. The garden also features charming tea houses where you can relax. I'm sure this garden is uniquely beautiful in all four seasons! We absolutely loved it!
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Elif Burgaz
Dec 28, 2024
April 13th, 2023: This is, hands down, the most amazing, well kept, park I've ever seen or been to IN MY LIFE (thus far). It's so well maintained you and the trees and bushes are so well trimmed, you almost think it's been engineered somehow. There's a wide variety of trees and bushes here. Even the pond is super clean. The atmosphere is one of serenity. It was not busy when we were there; it was more of a healthy crowd. Oh yeah, we also had some ice cream dipped in a Kanazawa gold leaf. This park is a must visit. The length, size, and views of the garden, are worth the walk. It's the perfect stroll. 7 stars (if I could.)
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Laurent B
Feb 17, 2025


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