Is Ritsurin Koen the Most Beautiful Garden in Japan?

History of Ritsurin Koen

According to the pamphlet they give you upon entry, construction for Ritsurin Koen (Ritsurin Garden) began in 1625, under the guidance of Ikoma Takatoshi, Takamatsu’s feudal lord at the time. Construction started around Nanko Pond of the present-day garden.

In 1642, Matsudaira Yorishige continued the garden’s construction after taking control of the province. He and successive members of his clan continued developing the garden for over a hundred years until its completion in 1745, under the rule of Matsudaira Yoritaka, the domain’s fifth lord.

The garden was used as the Matsudaira family’s villa for 228 years before it was opened to the public in 1875. In 1953, the Japanese government designated Ritsurin Koen as one of the country’s Special Places of Scenic Beauty. It was also awarded three stars by Michelin Green Guide Japan in 2009.

In spite of its accolades, Ritsurin Koen isn’t considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan.

Visiting Ritsurin Koen

The moment you walk into Ritsurin Koen, you’ll realize this is no ordinary garden.

Located in front of the wooded Mt Shiun, the garden’s total area is roughly 75 hectares (750,000 sq m). It’s home to six ponds and thirteen artificial hills distributed between two sections, the north and south gardens.

Of all the flora at Ritsurin Koen, it’s clear that the pine trees are a particular source of pride. Calling them the “best pine trees in Japan“, they’ve been meticulously caring for the roughly 1,000 pines at the garden for over 300 years. Many, like the trees you see below, have branches beautifully curved like bonsai.

Unlike other Japanese gardens I’ve visited, where you’re pretty much left to explore the garden on your own, Ritsurin Koen gives you a map with two clearly marked walking trails to follow. This is a godsend because it shows you the ideal path to take to explore the garden’s grounds, so you don’t miss anything.

One walking trail is for the South Garden, while the other takes you through the North. They take roughly 60 minutes and 40 minutes to complete, respectively.

Both gardens are beautiful, but clearly, the South Garden is the primary draw at Ritsurin Koen. If you have limited time, then I recommend starting there.

The southern portion is the oldest part of the garden and is done in the traditional Japanese style. It’s home to more than one teahouse and numerous bonsai-like shaped pine trees. When Ritsurin Koen was opened to the public in 1875, the northern portion was redesigned in the Western style¹.

A museum dedicated to local traditional crafts, Sanuki Mingeikan (formerly the Kagawa Prefecture Museum), was also erected in the northern garden.

I’ve seen these zig-zag bridges at more than one Japanese garden. I used to think they were made to resemble shide, those zig-zag-folded paper streamers you often see at Shinto shrines, but that isn’t the case.

I read up on why they’re shaped the way they are, and apparently, there’s an old myth that explains how evil spirits can only travel in straight lines, so a zig-zag bridge allegedly protects the garden. This is untrue².

These zig-zag bridges are known as yatsu-hashi, meaning “eight bridges”. This alludes to the eight planks of wood used to create each segment of the bridge. The resulting zig-zag shape allows guests to walk over the bridge and admire the scenery from different vantage points. The Japanese really do think of everything.

Ritsurin Koen is home to different types of seasonal flowers. I’m not sure if these are cherry blossoms, but according to the Shikoku Tourism website, there are approximately 300 Somei-Yoshino cherry trees at the garden.

Koi ponds are among my favorite features at Japanese gardens. Near this bridge are vending machines that dispense small packets of fish pellets.

Throw a few pellets into the pond, and you’ll have a colorful picture or Reel to post on Instagram.

This is one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the garden. Known as Hirai-ho Hill, this artificial mound was designed to resemble Mt Fuji and gives viewers a clear view of Engetsu-kyo Bridge and the South Pond with Mt Shiun rising gracefully in the background.

If you time it just right, you may even catch a passing wasen boat gliding through the pond.

Here, a group of tourists is taken on a loop of the South Pond in a traditional wasen boat, expertly guided by a boatman.

Don’t these Japanese boats make for a picture-perfect scene? Of all the landscaped gardens I’ve been to in Japan, only Ritsurin Koen has been large enough to offer these traditional boat rides.

No matter how short I am of time, there’s one thing I never fail to do at Japanese gardens, and that’s to enjoy a bowl of matcha with wagashi. It’s one of my absolute favorite things to do in Japan.

Kikugetsu-tei is the main teahouse at Ritsurin Koen, but you can also enjoy matcha at a smaller teahouse, Higurashi-tei. There are several cafes and gift shops throughout the garden as well.

Visit Ritsurin Koen FAQs

What is the admission fee at Ritsurin Koen?

As of January 2026, admission to Ritsurin Koen is JPY 500 per adult (JPY 170/child). Wasen boat rides are JPY 620 per adult (JPY 310/child).

How do I get to Ritsurin Koen?

Ritsurin Koen is located around 2.5 km (1.6 miles) south of Takamatsu Station. It took me less than half an hour to get there on foot from the station, but you can also take the bus or metro. You can plot your trip using Google Maps.

How much time will I need for my visit?

I got to see everything in a little over two hours, but it did feel a bit rushed. If time weren’t a factor, then I would have preferred to spend at least three hours here.

THE FINAL SAY

I will never grow tired of these Japanese landscaped gardens. For me, they’re an essential part of the Japan experience and something I always prioritize no matter where I am in the country.

In my opinion, even the smallest gardens are worth visiting, but Ritsurin Koen is an absolute must. Don’t miss it on your next trip to Takamatsu and the Shikoku region.

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References

1. Ritsurin Garden. Wikipedia. (2005, July 20).
2. 10 Japanese Garden Myths. Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix. (2023, April 11).