Shikoku Information

Area:

  • Kagawa

Category:

  • Sightseeing Spots
  • History and Culture

Ritsurin Garden

Ritsurin Garden

A historic daimyo garden where the scenery changes with every step.

Ritsurin Garden is a nationally designated Special Place of Scenic Beauty, featuring six ponds and thirteen landscaped hills. Set against Mount Shiun, its ponds, carefully tended pines, and stone arrangements reveal a different view at every turn. Though located in central Takamatsu, it offers a peaceful retreat into the timeless beauty of a Japanese garden.

Three highlights of Ritsurin Garden

  1. 1. Varied garden scenery centered on the South PondDiscover new views as you walk, from Mount Shiun reflected beyond the pond to beautifully maintained pine trees.
  2. 2. Views of the South Pond from a Japanese-style boatA traditional boat ride lets you appreciate the garden from the water. Check the official website for operating schedules and fares.
  3. 3. Tea and an early-morning strollEnjoy tea at Kikugetsutei or make the most of the seasonally changing opening hours with a quiet morning walk.

Official information and directions

Check the official websiteGet directions on Google Maps

Quick access guide

By car

About 15 minutes from Takamatsu Chuo IC or 20 minutes from Takamatsu Nishi IC. Use the prefectural parking lots in front of the East Gate or North Gate.

By public transportation

About a 3-minute walk from JR Ritsurin-Koen-Kitaguchi Station, 7 minutes from Kotoden Ritsurin Koen Station, or 1 minute from the Ritsurin Koen-mae bus stop.

* Parking lots may be crowded during illumination events and other special occasions. Consider using public transportation.

Nearby attractions

  • ・KikugetsuteiThis teahouse stands beside the South Pond, offering close-up views of the water and carefully tended pines from its tatami rooms. Take time to appreciate the tranquil beauty of the strolling garden while enjoying matcha tea and a traditional Japanese sweet.
  • ・The Kagawa MuseumA comprehensive museum where visitors can explore Kagawa’s history, folklore, and art in one place. Its exhibits provide deeper context for the landscapes and culture encountered in the garden.
  • ・Takamatsu Castle Ruins / Tamamo ParkA park on the ruins of Takamatsu Castle, where you can see seawater-filled moats and surviving turrets. Walk through a contrasting landscape of castle architecture and the sea to discover another dimension of Takamatsu’s history.

* Opening hours vary by month. Check the official website for the latest information, including illumination events and boat operations.

Details

Area Kagawa
Address 1-20-16 Ritsurin-cho, Takamatsu, 760-0073 Kagawa
TEL +81-87-833-7411
FAX +81-87-833-7420
E-mail -

Download Brochure

Basic Information

Open hours Apr. - May. | 05:30 am - 06:30 pm
Jun. - Aug. | 05:30 am - 07:00 pm
Sep. | 05:30 am - 06:30 pm
Oct. | 06:00 am - 05:30 pm
Nov. | 06:30 am - 05:00 pm
Dec. - Jan. | 07:00 am - 05:00 pm
Feb. | 07:00 am - 05:30 pm
Mar. | 06:30 am - 06:00 pm
Closed regularly Open all year round
Admission fee Adult : 500JPY | Child : 170JPY
Parking lot Cars : Yes | Buses : Yes
Free Wi-Fi Yes
Toilet Yes
Recommended season Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter

A special experience found only here.

The garden was designed to be leisurely strolled through, and each step offers a new perspective on the garden's scenery. Seasonal flowers and one thousand carefully maintained pine trees create gorgeous scenery that changes throughout the seasons. Passed down through the generations, Ritsurin Garden is truly an invaluable cultural treasure.

In France’s “Michelin Green Guide Japan,” Ritsurin Garden was given the guidebook’s highest rating of three stars, meaning it is “worth a special journey.”


Light-up of cherry blossoms

The garden, wrapped in cherry blossoms and softly illuminated, offers an enchanting scene entirely different from its daytime appearance.

Date for exhibition End of Mar. - Early Apr.
Open hour 06:00 pm - 09:00 pm

* Check the official website for the latest opening and event information.

Check cherry blossom illumination information


Autumn foliage illumination

Illuminated autumn foliage and the historic garden create a distinctive atmosphere that can only be experienced on an autumn evening.

Date for exhibition End of Nov. - Early Dec.
Open hour 05:00 pm - 09:00 pm

* Check the official website for the latest opening and event information.

Check autumn illumination information

History ・Culture Experience Tours

Kimono-wearing Tour at Ritsurin Garden

Stroll through this celebrated garden in a kimono and preserve a special travel memory against its historic scenery.

Price 4,800JPY
Start Time 10:00 am / 02:00 pm
Duration 2.5 hours

* Check the official website for the latest opening and event information.

Book this experience


Wasen Boat Ride

Glide across the pond in a traditional Japanese boat and appreciate the garden’s beauty from a unique viewpoint on the water.

Price Adult : 850JPY | Child : 420JPY
Duration 30 minutes
Operating 09:00 am - 04:00 pm

* Check the official website for the latest opening and event information.

Book this experience


Japanese Tea Ceremony

Surrounded by the garden’s tranquil atmosphere, enjoy fragrant matcha and a peaceful moment of Japanese tradition.

Price 800JPY
Operating 09:00 am - 04:00 pm

* Check the official website for the latest opening and event information.

Check matcha experience information

Photo Gallery

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