Yokohama English Garden

Yokohama English Garden is one of those rare places that feels like a peaceful pause from the noise of everyday life. Tucked away from the city rush, it’s not massive or flashy, but it’s quietly beautiful the kind of place where everything slows down, even your thoughts. The garden is thoughtfully laid out, with winding paths, seasonal flowers, and over 1,800 varieties of roses that bloom like something out of a storybook. The air in spring and early summer is sweet and floral, and even in the off-seasons, there’s something soothing about the well-kept greenery and changing colors. It doesn’t feel overly manicured or artificial it just feels calm. There’s a small café inside where you can sit with tea and look out at the blooms, and if you like photography or sketching, this place is a quiet dream. It's also surprisingly uncrowded on most weekdays, which adds to the charm. Yokohama English Garden isn’t a big tourist magnet, and that’s what makes it special. It feels personal like a garden that belongs to you, if only for an hour. If you’re in Yokohama and need a gentle reset, this is the place to go.

DON’T VISIT DURING RAINY SEASON I came to Japan in June for hydrangeas. That was the entire purpose of my seasonal travel - to experience these vibrant, rain-loving blooms at their peak. When I decided to visit Yokohama English Garden, I expected more than just hydrangeas. I came anticipating a garden that would cater to all flowers in season, not one still clinging to the memory of its rose display. Unfortunately, the garden is heavily rose-centric in both layout and identity. By late June, the roses had already faded, and what remained were rain-damaged petals and empty trellises. The once-famous Rose Tunnel had lost its magic, reduced to a quiet, green corridor with little life left. It was clear that May is this garden’s true highlight - and outside that, the experience tapers off significantly. Thankfully, the hydrangeas delivered. With nearly 300 varieties, they were vibrant, full-bodied, and thriving in the overcast, rainy weather. The colours - cool blues, deep purples, soft pinks - were deeply satisfying to witness. I came to Japan for these, and in that sense, Yokohama English Garden didn’t disappoint. But that one success wasn’t enough to overshadow what the rest of the garden lacked. For the entry price, which remains fairly high even outside peak season, the size of the garden and lack of variety in June left me underwhelmed. There weren’t enough companion plantings or seasonal transitions to make up for the absence of the roses. The on-site café and souvenir shop were also underwhelming. The floral-themed refreshments were visually charming but overpriced, and the flavour didn’t live up to the aesthetic. Similarly, the souvenirs leaned heavily into generic offerings, without much thoughtfulness or uniqueness behind the price tags. In short, while I don’t regret visiting - I got exactly what I came to Japan for: hydrangeas - I expected more from a garden with this level of branding and reputation. If you’re visiting in June, come for the hydrangeas alone and set your expectations accordingly.

I felt that the 1,500 yen ticket for adults was a bit too expensive. It’s actually a garden, but I expected it to be much larger. The main highlight was just the colorful roses. We visited in mid-May 2025, and by that time, about half of the flowers had already fallen. We spent less than an hour there since there wasn’t much to explore. On Google Maps, the ticket price was listed as 700 yen, which is why we decided to visit, but we were a bit disappointed. There’s a cafe inside the garden as well. For me, it’s more of a one-time visit. I don’t think I’d come back again.

Visited on June 2025. It was an amazing experience to see the hydrangea, roses and other flowers. Adult ticket was 1000 yen person. Recommended!