What other travelers are saying about Kenrokuen Garden
Kenrokuen Garden is absolutely beautiful and truly feels like a work of art. Every section of the garden is carefully designed, with ponds, bridges, trees, and open spaces that come together in a very harmonious way.
I visited in December, and even without cherry blossoms or autumn leaves, the garden was still stunning. The winter atmosphere gave it a calm, elegant feeling, perfect for a peaceful walk.
A very helpful detail is that visitors aged 65 and over can enter for free, which is great to know when visiting with family. The garden is well maintained and easy to navigate, with many scenic spots that invite you to slow down and enjoy the surroundings.
Definitely a must-visit if you’re in Kanazawa and appreciate traditional Japanese gardens and artful landscapes.
Kenrokuen Garden began its development in the 17th century by the Maeda family, rulers of the Kaga Domain. It evolved over several generations, becoming open to the public in 1871.
Key features include the Kotojitoro Lantern, known for its two-legged design; Kasumigaike Pond, which reflects the surrounding trees and landscapes; and the iconic Karasaki Pine, shaped over many years.
Kenrokuen is beautiful year-round, but the cherry blossom season in spring and the autumn foliage season are particularly stunning. Winter also offers a unique view with yukizuri (snow-hanging) structures that protect the trees from heavy snow.
Yes, guided tours are available, offering insights into the garden's history, design, and botanical features. Both group and private tours can be arranged.
The garden is partially accessible to visitors with disabilities, with some areas having paved paths and gentle slopes. However, some parts of the garden might be challenging due to natural terrain.
One of the most beautiful Japanese gardens. Scenery is amazing, in the morning is relatively quiet. Visited during December and even though it’s probably not so bloomed like during the summer it’s still beautiful. You can easily hang out there 2-3h just absorbing nature
Fantastic! The entry fee is 320 yen (so cheap) and it will buy you access to a beautiful peaceful garden. It’s evident that a lot of people work here. The park is in excellent condition and really taken care of.
The pond, buildings, bridges and trees (pines) are just breathtaking, especially on a sunny day.
There are bathrooms all over the park and it’s possible to buy drinks in some places. Easy to walk but there are some stairs.
Day or night this place is amazing. Totally iconic as a perfect Japanese garden. A large variety of trees, shrubbery, water features and picture perfect structures. It's also right next to Kanazawa castle which in its own right is amazing. The only thing I would change is the spotlights were too bright/the color temp was too high but still awesome when viewed at night. The park is free on certain nights during November/December.
I will not deny that this large garden is very beautiful- however, the set up of about 3/4th of the area is more like being at an art museum. The gardens are a display you can look at- not walk through. It has more the feeling of a park than a garden too- probably due to its size. The large areas of untrafficed landscape do allow for perfect upkeep, but I love to be able to stroll through gardens and across bridges more than I like just looking out onto scenery. There are some areas like that here, that you can walk through- near the two tea houses on the site. Though those are the only areas that I found particularly appealing and attractive by the criteria I described.
Lots of place to grab a little something to eat or snack on, all along the edges of the gardens. Nice and clean restrooms, also some wildlife.
