Ritsurin Garden
Also written: 栗林公園 · 栗林公园
A sprawling daimyo-era landscape garden of pine groves and ponds, awarded three stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan.
Another illustration of this place, under Famous Views →
An Illustrated Japan / Kagawa / Townscape & Scenery
About this place
Ritsurin Garden in central Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, is a circuit-style daimyo strolling garden created over about 100 years from early Edo period by Ikoma and Matsudaira clan lords of Takamatsu Domain, covering about 75 hectares and designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty of Japan in 1953, also awarded three stars in Michelin Green Guide Japon as worth a special journey, placing it among Japan's three most acclaimed daimyo gardens alongside Kenrokuen and Korakuen. The garden composes six ponds including South Lake and North Lake and thirteen artificial hills evoking Mount Fuji, meticulously pruned approximately 1,400 black and red pine trees shaped like bonsai carpets, and teahouses Kiku-getsu-tei literally Chrysanthemum Moon Pavilion extracted from Edo tea ceremony aesthetics and Hiraiho viewpoint borrowing Mount Shiun as borrowed scenery. The South Garden retains dense Edo planting with winding paths, hidden streams, and stone arrangement, while North Garden added in Meiji opens to expansive lawns with Western-style lawn mixture and British garden influence. Seasonal highlights include plum blossoms in February around Bai-rin grove, cherry in late March, iris in June at Hanashobu pond, lotus in summer, vivid maple in late November, and yukitsuri rope protection for pines in winter creating sculptural silhouettes. The Sanuki Folk Craft Museum within grounds exhibits lacquer ware, Marugame uchiwa fans, Aji stone sculpture and glass by Living National Treasures. A Japanese-style wasen punt cruise of 15 minutes offers water-level viewing of koi carp and ducks, while matcha tea service at Kikugetsu-tei allows sitting on tatami overlooking pond, conveying Edo garden artistry that international visitors praise as must-experience on Shikoku route. Recommended circulation follows Edo daimyo procession, starting from South Garden plum grove, taking matcha at Kikugetsu-tei, passing North Garden lawn to wharf where wasen boat departs for 15-minute cruise. At Kikugetsu-tei matcha service uses Wasanbon sugar sweets, and carp swimming in South Lake appear framed like living painting. Pine pruning is done systematically over year by master gardeners spending three days per tree carefully removing old needles and wiring branches, maintaining highest peak of Japanese garden art. Autumn illumination nights reflect garden lights in ponds creating double image photography opportunity, and spring forsythia tunnels beyond main pond provide unexpected yellow accent. Small souvenir shop sells Ritsurin Garden original pine-scented incense. Recommended circulation follows Edo daimyo procession, starting from South Garden plum grove, taking matcha at Kikugetsu-tei, passing North Garden lawn to wharf where wasen boat departs for 15-minute cruise. At Kikugetsu-tei matcha service uses Wasanbon sugar sweets, and carp swimming in South Lake appear framed like living painting. Pine pruning is done systematically over year by master gardeners spending three days per tree carefully removing old needles and wiring branches, maintaining highest peak of Japanese garden art. Autumn illumination nights reflect garden lights in ponds creating double image photography opportunity, and spring forsythia tunnels beyond main pond provide unexpected yellow accent. Small souvenir shop sells Ritsurin Garden original pine-scented incense.
