Kasumigaike Pond in Kenroku-en reflecting pine trees, teahouses and a blue sky with white clouds

Heritage · Kenroku-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture

Kanazawa – Kenroku-en

One of Japan's Three Great Gardens, created by the Maeda lords beside Kanazawa Castle

Ambient sound · similar settingSummer cicada chorus in Chinese hill woodland

Photo: Zion C (@jcs_chen) / Unsplash

Discover Kanazawa – Kenroku-en

Kenroku-en is the reason many travellers make the journey to Kanazawa. Spread over more than 11 hectares on a rise next to Kanazawa Castle, it is counted among the Three Great Gardens of Japan, and its name means a garden combining six qualities: spaciousness and seclusion, artifice and antiquity, water and broad views.

Paths lead around Kasumigaike Pond, past teahouses, bridges, streams and stone lanterns, the most famous being the two-legged Kotoji lantern. Every season changes the scene, from plum and cherry blossom in spring to red maples in autumn, and in winter the conical rope supports called yukitsuri, raised over the pines to protect them from heavy snow, make the garden instantly recognisable.

Don’t miss

01Kotoji-toro, the two-legged stone lantern beside Kasumigaike Pond and the garden's symbol
02Kasumigaike, the large central pond with its islands and lakeside teahouses
03A naturally gravity-fed fountain rising about 3.5 metres, said to be among Japan's oldest
04Yukitsuri rope supports over the Karasaki pine and other trees, put up from 1 November
05Seisonkaku, the Maeda villa built in 1863, now a museum
06Plum and cherry blossom in spring, azaleas in summer and red maples in autumn

History & culture

The story of Kanazawa – Kenroku-en

The garden was developed over several centuries by the Maeda family, lords of the Kaga domain and among the wealthiest feudal families in Japan. Landscaping began in 1676, when the fifth lord, Maeda Tsunanori, laid out a garden known as Renchitei near Kanazawa Castle. Successive lords enlarged it, and in 1822 it received the name Kenroku-en, a reference to the six attributes of an ideal garden described in a Chinese text.

In 1863 Maeda Nariyasu built Seisonkaku villa beside the garden as a retirement residence for his mother. Kenroku-en opened to the public in 1874, and it was designated a national Place of Scenic Beauty in 1922 and a Special Place of Scenic Beauty in 1985.

Local life & traditions

Kanazawa is a former castle town known for traditional crafts such as gold leaf, of which the city produces around 99 per cent of Japan's domestic supply. Kenroku-en is woven into local life: the raising of the yukitsuri each November marks the start of winter, and the garden is a favourite spot for residents to view blossoms and maples through the seasons.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Walk a slow circuit around Kasumigaike Pond to see the Kotoji lantern and the teahouses reflected in the water, then follow the streams and paths to the fountain and the garden's smaller ponds.

Combine the garden with Kanazawa Castle Park, reached by a bridge from the Ishikawa Gate side, and with the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, a short walk away. Seasonal evening illuminations are held at certain times of year, and in winter the snow-covered pines are lit for short periods in January and February.

When to go

Each season has its appeal. Plum blossom usually opens in February and March, followed by cherry blossom in early to mid April; azaleas flower in early summer, and the maples typically turn red from early to late November, though timing varies year to year. From early November the yukitsuri are in place, and snow on the ropes and pines in January and February makes classic winter scenes. Early morning visits are calmer and the light is softer.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Opening hours (as published): 1 March to 15 October: 7:00 to 18:00; 16 October to end of February: 8:00 to 17:00. Evening light-ups are held at certain times of year. Source: ana.co.jp ↗
Getting there: Bus from Kanazawa Station (Kenrokuen exit) to the Kenrokuen or Hirosaka stops, about 20 minutes; JR Pass holders can use JR buses bound for Korinbo. Source: japan.travel ↗
Address: 1 Kenroku-machi, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa Source: japan.travel ↗
Yukitsuri season: Rope supports are installed around 1 November and removed around 15 March. Source: japan.travel ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Arrive at opening time for quiet paths and reflections on Kasumigaike Pond.
Wear comfortable shoes; paths include gravel, stepping stones and gentle slopes.
Stay on the paths and do not climb on lanterns, rocks or bridges.
Bring a light umbrella: Kanazawa has frequent rain and snow, especially in winter.
Pair the garden with Kanazawa Castle Park and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art for a full day.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Kanazawa – Kenroku-en: food, markets & places to stay

Kanazawa Castle Park lies directly across the road, linked by a bridge to the Ishikawa Gate. The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art and the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art are within walking distance, as are the Kanazawa Noh Museum and the Kaga Yuzen Kimono Center. Small restaurants and cafes near the Katsurazaka gate serve casual lunches, tea and gold-leaf ice cream. Kanazawa Station, on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, is about 20 minutes away by bus, and express buses run from the station to Shirakawa-go.

Kanazawa – Kenroku-en & what’s nearby

All places in Japan →

Loading map…

Open larger map ↗

Elevated view over Shirakawa-go's thatched houses and rice paddies in a green valley with mountains beyond

Heritage

Ogimachi, Shirakawa, Gifu Prefecture · 40 km away

Kanazawa – Kenroku-en in pictures

Himeji Castle's white main keep and smaller keeps rising above stone walls against a clear blue sky

Heritage

Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture

Himeji Castle

A gleaming white castle complex of original wooden buildings, nicknamed the White Heron Castle, inscribed by UNESCO in 1993 and an easy day trip from Osaka or Kyoto.

Explore

Visit Kanazawa – Kenroku-en on a Japan holiday

All Japan packages →

Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, above its pond among pine trees and forested hills, Kyoto

CultureCity break

Japan · 11 nights4★ Hotel

Classic Japan: Tokyo, Hakone & Kyoto

Ryokan with onsen
Fushimi Inari
Bullet train pass

Includes accommodation · private transfers · daily breakfast · guided sightseeing

Indicative from

$3,426 pp

Shinjuku skyscrapers, including the Cocoon Tower, silhouetted against an orange sunset sky in Tokyo

CultureLuxury

Japan · 13 nights5★ Boutique

Japan Cherry Blossom Journey

Sakura viewing
Kaiseki dinner
Miyajima