Ritsurin Garden

Welcome to Ritsurin Garden, an 'open-air museum' of horticulture and a National Treasure-class site located in Takamatsu. Covering over 75 hectares—the largest such garden in Japan—Ritsurin is a masterclass in 'strolling style'…

We begin our walk near the East Gate at the Commerce and Industry Promotion Hall. Built in 1899, this structure served as Kagawa's first museum and is a beautiful example of Meiji-era architecture. …

Continuing south, we enter a remarkable corridor of greenery: the Hakomatsu, or Box-shaped Pines. These trees are a unique feature found only in Ritsurin Garden. …

We arrive at the Kikugetsu-tei, the 'Moon-Scooping House,' perhaps the most celebrated structure in the garden. This 'Sukiya' style tea house was built in the early Edo period and was dearly loved by successive generations of the…

The South Pond is the visual anchor of the garden's southern half. We stand on the Gishin-kyo (Welcoming the Spring Bridge), an elegant wooden arch that spans the water. …

Located on a mound near the tea houses is one of Ritsurin's most remarkable individual trees: the Nagari-no-Goyomatsu, or Visible Roots Pine. Standing over 8 meters tall with a massive trunk, this Japanese white pine is famous…

As we head back toward the East Gate, we pass through Kirin Square. Here, you will find two striking bronze statues of giraffes sitting on a bench. …

As we conclude our tour of Ritsurin Garden, the image that remains is one of 'perfection inspired by nature.' This is a garden where human 'wisdom and effort' have worked in harmony with the environment for over 400 years. From…