Ritsurin Garden

Garden

Part of Takamatsu

Prefecture

Kagawa

Type

Garden

N/A

0 reviews

English Staff Train Access Cafe

Plan a trip with Ritsurin Garden

About This Destination

Japan's largest cultural property garden with six ponds, thirteen hills, and over a thousand sculpted pine trees.

Ritsurin Garden is the largest cultural property garden in Japan, spanning 75 hectares with Mount Shiun as its living backdrop. Built over approximately 100 years by the feudal lords of the Takamatsu domain, the garden features six ponds, thirteen landscaped hills, and over 1,000 meticulously pruned pine trees. The garden changes dramatically with each season: cherry blossoms in spring, lotus flowers in summer, brilliant foliage in autumn, and snow-dusted landscapes in winter. A traditional wabi tea ceremony experience is available at the Kikugetsu-tei tea house overlooking the South Pond. Boat tours on the ponds offer a different perspective. The garden is a three-minute walk from JR Ritsurin-Koen-Kitaguchi Station, making it very accessible from central Takamatsu.

Location

Prefecture: Kagawa

Address: Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan

Nearest Station: Ritsurin-Koen-Kitaguchi Station

Closed: Open every day. Closes temporarily when a storm warning is issued for the Takamatsu area.

Hours note: Hours change every month, from 5:30 to 19:00 in June to August to 7:00 to 17:00 in December and January.

Best time to visit: Year-round; one of Japan's finest gardens, with spring cherry, summer lotus, and brilliant autumn foliage

🍁 Autumn leaves: Late November – early December in a typical year. Lit up in the evenings during the season. See autumn leaves on the map

View on Google Maps Explore nearby

Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Accepted

Food Options: Kikugetsu-tei tea house serves matcha with Japanese sweets. Nearby Takamatsu is famous for Sanuki udon noodles.

Official Website

Access

Kagawa, Japan

Get Directions

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Ritsurin Garden?

Take the Kotoden train a few minutes to Ritsurin-Koen Station, or about 5 minutes by JR to Ritsurinkoen-Kitaguchi, both a short walk from the gates. Takamatsu is the gateway city.

What is Ritsurin Garden known for?

A feudal-era strolling garden ranked among Japan's very best, with six ponds and thirteen landscaped hills set against the borrowed scenery of Mt Shiun, and over a thousand sculpted pines.

What are the entry fee and hours, and can I ride the boat?

Entry is around ¥410 for adults, open roughly from sunrise to sunset. A traditional wasen boat ride across the south pond, for a small extra fee, gives the garden's most photogenic angle.