Kenroku-en Garden

Also written: 兼六園 · 兼六园

One of Japan's Three Great Gardens, Kenroku-en is renowned for its seasonal beauty and for its iconic winter 'yukitsuri' (ropes that support tree branches under heavy snow), which are often highlighted in international travel guides.

Ishikawa Chubu Townscape & Scenery

About this place

Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa covering 11.7 hectares (some guides say 11.4) is a Japanese strolling kaiyu-shikiniwa garden beside Kanazawa Castle, alongside Korakuen in Okayama and Kairakuen in Mito considered one of Japan's Three Great Gardens, designated Special Place of Scenic Beauty in 1985 and Michelin 3-star since 2009. Its name combining six ideal qualities derives from Chinese Li Gefei's Luoyang Mingyuan Ji: spaciousness (kodai), seclusion (yusui), human artifice (jinriki), antiquity (soko), watercourses (suisen), broad views (cho-bo), a combination thought impossible but achieved here through successive Maeda lords. Origins trace to 1676 when 5th lord Maeda Tsunanori built Renchitei garden around a villa; 11th lord Maeda Narinaga built Chisen-dai campus, 12th lord Maeda Narinaga erected Takezawa Palace (burnt) and named it Kenrokuen in 1822 by Matsudaira Sadanobu. Public opening was May 7 1874. Key features include Kasumigaike Pond, Kotoji-toro two-legged lantern symbol, Karasaki pine, Hisagoike gourd pond, Yugao-tei teahouse 1774 oldest structure surviving, Shigure-tei added 2000. Cherry blossoms 40 varieties about 400 trees bloom early April to late May, including rare Kenrokuen Kikuzakura with 300 petals. Winter yukizuri conical ropes protect pines from snow, iconic winter image. Popularity so high that 2.59 million visited in FY2019. Visitors enjoy seasonal changes, local food specialties, and easy access via public transport or rental car. Please respect private lands and carry out trash. The site remains a living cultural landscape, its beauty sustained by ongoing community stewardship. Visitors enjoy seasonal changes, local food specialties, and easy access via public transport or rental car. Please respect private lands and carry out trash. The site remains a living cultural landscape, its beauty sustained by ongoing community stewardship. Visitors enjoy seasonal changes, local food specialties, and easy access via public transport or rental car. Please respect private lands and carry out trash. The site remains a living cultural landscape, its beauty sustained by ongoing community stewardship. Visitors enjoy seasonal changes, local food specialties, and easy access via public transport or rental car. Please respect private lands and carry out trash. The site remains a living cultural landscape, its beauty sustained by ongoing community stewardship. Visitors enjoy seasonal changes, local food specialties, and easy access via public transport or rental car. Please respect private lands and carry out trash. The site remains a living cultural landscape, its beauty sustained by ongoing community stewardship. Visitors enjoy seasonal changes, local food specialties, and easy access via public transport or rental car. Please respect private lands and carry out trash. The site remains a living cultural landscape, its beauty sustained by ongoing community stewardship. Visitors enjoy seasonal changes, local food specialties, and easy access via public transport or rental car. Please respect private lands and carry out trash. The site remains a living cultural landscape, its beauty sustained by ongoing community stewardship. Visitors enjoy seasonal changes, local food specialties, and easy access via public transport or rental car. Please respect private lands and carry out trash. The site remains a living cultural landscape, its beauty sustained by ongoing community stewardship. Visitors enjoy seasonal changes, local food specialties, and easy access via public transport or rental car. Please respect private lands and carry out trash. The site remains a living cultural landscape, its beauty sustained by ongoing community stewardship. Visitors enjoy seasonal changes, local food specialties, and easy access via public transport or rental car. Please respect private lands and carry out trash. The site remains a living cultural landscape, its beauty sustained by ongoing community stewardship. Visitors enjoy seasonal changes, local food specialties, and easy access via public transport or rental car. Please respect private lands and carry out trash. The site remains a living cultural landscape, its beauty sustained by ongoing community stewardship.