Kenrokuen Garden

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Attractions > Other Cities and Areas > Japanese Gardens > Kanazawa

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Kenrokuen Garden in Autumn by bryan (CC BY 2.5)

About

Kenrokuen Garden by Japanexperterna (CC BY 3.0)

Kenrokuen or Kenroku-en is a famous, private old Japanese Garden in Kanazawa Japan. Kenrokuen is one of the "Three Great Gardens of Japan", along with Kairaku-en and Koraku-en. This large garden used to be the outer garden of Kanazawa Castle and was constructed by the ruling Maeda family over a period of nearly two hundred years during the 1620s to the 1840s, maintained from generation to generation. Construction began when lord Maeda Tsunanori moved his administration to the castle and began to landscape a garden in this vicinity. The garden is open year-round and is famous for its beauty in all seasons.

Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa Japan by 663highland (CC BY 3.0)

Kenrokuen Garden, 663highland (CC BY 3.0)

Walking around Kenroku-en you will begin to see all the incredible features it has to offer such as water features, tea-houses, bridges, trees, flowers, stones, viewpoints and hidden nooks to discover. The water in the garden is diverted from a distant river by a sophisticated water system that was constructed in 1632. This water system feeds Kenrokuen's various streams and ponds including the two main ponds in the garden.　There is a well known stone lantern designed after the image of the Japanese Koto (harp) by the pond, which has become the symbol of Kenrokuen Garden (you can see a picture of it on this page).

Kenrokuen Garden by Jovandavid (CC0 1.0)

Kenrokuen Garden, Jovandavid (CC0 1.0)

It doesn't matter what season of the year it is, Kenroku-en was built to be beautiful during any season. Even during the winter the beautiful snow-covered landscape is awe inspiring. During Spring, Summer and Fall Visitors can enjoy the beauty of the flowers and trees, such as plum and cherry blossoms in spring, azaleas and irises early in summer, and colorful red and yellow leaves in autumn.

Access

Closest Train Station: Kanazawa

1 Kenrokumachi
Kanazawa-shi 920-0905 Japan

Tel: 76-234-3800

From Kanazawa Station:

Kanazawa Loop Bus (stop numbers LL9 and RL8): get off at "Kenrokuen-shita", 20 min. ride, 200 yen
Kenrokuen Shuttle Bus (stop number S8): get off at "Kenrokuen-shita", 20 min. ride, 200 yen (100 yen on weekends/holidays)
Hokutetsu bus (East Exit bus stop number 3): get off at "Kenrokuen-shita", 20 min. ride, 200 yen
JR Bus 1-3 per hour: (covered by the Japan Rail Pass) East Exit bus stop number 4 and get off at "Kenrokuen-shita", 20 min. ride

Google Map

Find a train route and times by Hyperdia & Jorudan

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