Kenrokuen Garden

Name: Kenrokuen Garden
Address: 1 Kenrokumachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0936, Japan
Rating: 4.4

4.4 (200)・Garden・Tourist Attraction・Park・Point Of Interest・Establishment

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)

Phone

+81 76-234-3800

Website

www.pref.ishikawa.jp

The area

Address

1 Kenrokumachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0936, Japan

Top ways to experience Kenrokuen Garden

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1 Day Trip All Around Kanazawa City

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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

Tom Brennan

Mar 24, 2025

Park with stunning visuals. As I went on the time where hanami blossoms peak, it was even more spectacular with the pink colors merging with the sky and the city. Make sure to visit the adjacent Kanazawa castle and museums, including 21 century museum. The pond lacked the cherry blossoms but it was still beautiful. There are many tea houses and an abundance of bathrooms and restaurants. Don’t forget to visit the markets selling skewers, and Japanese street food. Access is simply by bus.

Lucas Lui

Apr 7, 2025

Gorgeous traditional garden. Feels the serenity as you stroll around to appreciate the efforts by the arborists & landscaping. Definitely worthy of a visit even for those not garden lovers.

Apr 8, 2025

One of the most breathtaking gardens in Japan. These gardens can be views during all 4 seasons. We visited during the end of the snow season. The cherry plossums had just started to show and there was still a little snow on the ground. We would love to visit again during both the winter season and spring. It was easy to get here via the bus and it never got too crowded. I would recommend visiting in the morning and late afternoon to capture the best photos and to have the place to yourself. The teahouse is quite small so we didn't go in this time. I would have loved to see inside and sit down for a drink. This place is also wheelchair accessible. All of the footpaths are very well maintained. Lots of bathrooms which are clean and well maintained

Cody Greer (Konpak)

Mar 24, 2025

A very large park with lots of beautiful plants, houses and green spaces and small lakes, the large trees are impressive and are extremely well maintained. You can feel the respect for nature. Simply beautiful to spend time in, relax and enjoy Japanese park. If you have an hour to spare, the Seison-Kaku is well worth a visit. Beautiful building; traditional Japanese architecture and aesthetics.