Theme guide
Gardens & parks
Japanese gardens are made to be walked slowly, with a new view at every turn. The Three Great Gardens are a good place to start.
- Places to visit
- 424
- Protected site
- 96
The Three Great Gardens
- Kenrokuen in Kanazawa (Ishikawa)
- Korakuen in Okayama (Okayama)
- Kairakuen in Mito (Ibaraki), famous for its plum blossoms
All three are strolling gardens built by feudal lords in the Edo period, with ponds, paths and views that change as you walk.
Good to know
- Every season looks different: plum blossoms in late winter, cherry blossoms in spring, red leaves in autumn.
- Most gardens close around dusk and the hours change by season, so check before you go.
- Pair a garden with a castle: Kenrokuen sits next to Kanazawa Castle, and Korakuen faces Okayama Castle across the river.
Where to find the most
Places to start with
Up to three places per prefecture, nationally protected sites first.
Region
141 places match
- HokkaidoProtected siteHarutori Park春採公園A park in Hokkaido, Japan.
- HokkaidoProtected siteHokkaido University Botanical Gardens北海道大学植物園A garden in Hokkaido, Japan.In Chuo Ward, Sapporo
- HokkaidoProtected siteHakodate Park函館公園A park in Hokkaido, Japan.In Hakodate
- AomoriProtected siteKanehiranari-en金平成園A garden in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
- AomoriProtected siteSeibi-en盛美園A garden in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
- AomoriProtected siteZuiraku-en瑞楽園A garden in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
- IwateAtago Nature Park愛宕自然公園A park in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.In Oshu
- IwateTakata Matsubara Sports Park高田松原運動公園A park in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.
- IwateEsashi-Fujiwara Heritage Parkえさし藤原の郷A park in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.In Oshu
- MiyagiProtected siteSaito Garden齋藤氏庭園A garden in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
- MiyagiIshinomaki Minamihama Tsunami Memorial Park石巻南浜津波復興祈念公園A park in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
- MiyagiNanakita Park七北田公園A park in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
- AkitaProtected siteJoshitei Garden旧秋田藩主佐竹氏別邸A garden in Akita Prefecture, Japan.In Akita
- AkitaAkasaka General Park赤坂総合公園A park in Akita Prefecture, Japan.
- AkitaHeian no Kaze Wataru Park平安の風わたる公園A park in Akita Prefecture, Japan.
- YamagataProtected siteSakai Family Garden酒井氏庭園A garden in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.In Tsuruoka
- YamagataMogamigawa Furusato General Park最上川ふるさと総合公園A park in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
- YamagataKahoku Town Children's Zoo河北町児童動物園A zoo in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
- FukushimaProtected siteSukagawa Peony Garden須賀川牡丹園A garden in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
- FukushimaTaira Central Park平中央公園A park in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
- FukushimaIwaki Manbon Sakuraいわき万本桜A flower-viewing spot in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
- IbarakiProtected siteOgushi Shell Mound大串貝塚A historic site in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.
- IbarakiMinato Park港公園A park in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.
- IbarakiSakuragawa City General Sports Park桜川市総合運動公園A flower-viewing spot in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.
Questions travellers ask
What are the Three Great Gardens of Japan?
Kenrokuen in Kanazawa, Korakuen in Okayama and Kairakuen in Mito.
Other themes
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.