Korakuen Garden is one of the three most famous gardens in Japan. It has been designated as a “Special Place of Scenic Beauty” as a historical and cultural heritage, and has received a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide Japan. There are Japanese-style buildings and various plants in the garden. In addition, various events such as tea picking (chatsumi, 茶摘み) and moon viewing are held every season. At Korakuen Garden, you can enjoy different ways of enjoying each season. Korakuen Garden is located near Okayama Castle (岡山城), so visiting together with Okayama Castle is recommended.
Admission fee
Adult : 410 yen
Seniors (Age 65 and older) : 140 yen
High school students and younger: Free
Joint ticket with Korakuen Garden : 640 yen
Opening hours
7:30 ～ 18:00 (March 20th to September 30th)
8:00 ～ 17:00 (October 1st to March 19th)
※ No regular holiday
※ Opening and closing times may change due to events
Access
Walking : about 25 min from JR Okayama station
Buses : about 15 min from JR Okayama station
Trams : about 4 min and 10 min walking from Okayama station
Cars : about 20 min from Sanyo Expressway Okayama IC
※ Details are described as below
Attractions
Korakuen Garden showcases a traditional Japanese garden design, with spacious lawns, ponds, streams, bridges, and teahouses. The garden’s layout follows the principles of “borrowed scenery,” where the surrounding landscape, including the neighboring Okayama Castle, is incorporated into the garden’s scenery.
Walking around the garden
There are many attractions in Korakuen Garden, but the most recommended ones are introduced here.
① Enyo-tei House
Enyo-tei house was used as a living room when the feudal lord visited Korakuen Garden. This is made so that feudal lord can see the scenery inside and outside the park, so you can see the entire garden from here.
② No Theater Stage and Eisho-no-ma Hall
As the name suggests, No and Kyogen (traditional Japanese theater) are performed on the No Theater Stage. Although it is not normally open to the public, No and Kyogen performances are held throughout the year. It is rarely open to the public, so if you are lucky, you might be able to see a No performance.
Eisho-no-ma Hall is set up to overlook the Korakuen No stage. The surrounding buildings facing the stage were also used as a place to entertain guests and watch No performances. Wedding ceremonies can be held in the Eisho-no-ma Hall.
③ Renchi-ken Rest House
Renchi-ken is a building used for rest and meetings. This building is built facing a pond, and you can see the scenic beauty of the garden, such as Sawanoike and Yuishinzan, and the water scenery is particularly good.
Stamps are sold here, so it might be a good idea to buy one if you like it.
Also, next to Renchi-ken, there is a shop and a place where you can eat light meals, so let’s take a break here.
It’s also fun to buy carp food and feed the carp.
④ Yatsuhashi Bridge and Ryuten Rest House
It is an unusual structure with a waterway in the center of the building. Six beautifully colored stones are placed in the waterway.
Take a relaxing break while gazing at the calm flow of water and the beautiful stones.
On the south side of Ryuten, there is a wooden bridge called Yatsuhashi Bridge, which floor is arranged so that it does not form a straight line. There are iris fields around Yatsuhashi, so in June, the colorful irises and Yatsuhashi are spectacular.
⑤ Yuishinzan Hill
Yuishinzan is a small hill located almost in the center of Korakuen Garden, from the top of which the entire garden can be seen. The slopes are planted with azaleas and satsuki (Japanese azalea). It is said that the view from the north, south, east and west was taken into consideration.
The view from top is so good.
⑥ Plum Grove and Cherry Tree Grove
The plum grove in Korakuen Garden is known as a famous viewing spot for more than 100 plum trees of various varieties, including red and white plum trees and Japanese allspice. The best time to see the plum blossoms is usually from late February to early March. Also, in April, you can see lush leaves and plum fruits.
The cherry grove in Korakuen Garden consists of about 50 cherry trees, mainly Someiyoshino, and the best time to see them is usually from late March to early April. The “sample tree” for judging the blooming of cherry trees in Okayama Prefecture is located in this cherry grove.
In addition, next to the Cherry tree grove, there is a famous spot for autumn leaves called Chishio no Mori, which turns bright red in autumn.
⑦ Seiden and Naka-no-shima
Seiden is a rice field consisting of nine equal squares, and every year on the second Sunday of June, the rice planting festival is held.
Naka-no-shima is an island floating in the pond, and you can cross the island through an arched bridge. The scenery of the bridge and the island is very tasteful, and it is sure to be a photogenic spot.
⑧ Jigen-do Temple
Jigen-do is a temple built by the feudal lord at the time to ward off bad luck. Originally, two statues of the Kannon were housed in Jigen-do, but both have been moved to other locations and are now empty.
There is a rest area called Fukuda Tea House next to the Jigen-do. Matcha green tea and dumplings are available, so be sure to take a break there.
⑨ Sawa-no-ike Pond
Sawa no Ike is located near the center of Korakuen, and there are three islands floating in the pond, including Naka-no-shima. From this location, you can see a view that includes Yushinzan hill and Okayama Castle, and this view is one of the must-see sights.
It is also a gathering point for carp in the pond, so it would be fun to feed the carps here.
⑩ Crane Aviary
At Crane Aviary, 8 red-crowned cranes are currently being bred. Red-crowned cranes have beautiful colors of white, black, and red, and you can see them up close here.
Each season
At Korakuen, you can enjoy different scenery every season.
Winter season (December to February)
Most of the plants in the garden are dead, but you can enjoy the overall calm scenery. There are not many people, so the winter season is recommended for those who want to enjoy Korakuen quietly. On snowy days, the garden is covered with pure white snow and you can see a very fantastic scenery.
Spring season (March to May)
In spring Korakuen is full of flowers such as cherry blossoms and plums. The cherry blossoms are especially beautiful from the end of March to the beginning of April. From near the bridge, you can take pictures with a very tasteful atmosphere.
In addition, azalea flowers bloom beautifully from the end of April to May. The weather is mild in spring, and it is a recommended season for sightseeing in Korakuen.
Summer season (June to August)
Around June, the Japanese irises in Korakuen are in full bloom. The colorful irises such as white, purple, pink, and light purple are a must see.
In addition, from 18:00 to 21:30 from August 1st to 31st, the garden will be illuminated, called SUMMER FANTASY GARDEN. During this period, the garden will be lit up fantastically and visitors will be able to enjoy a cool nighttime stroll through the garden.
Autumn season (September to November)
Autumn in Japan means autumn leaves. Also in Korakuen, the leaves in the garden turn bright red in autumn. Usually, the best time to see it is around November.
Night opening and illumination event called as AUTUMN FANTASY GARDEN is held in middle to late November. The illuminated autumn leaves are very beautiful, and you can enjoy a different view from SUMMER FANTASY GARDEN.
Access
You can access Korakuen on foot, by tram or by bus from Okayama Station.
If you access on foot
Leave the east exit of JR Okayama station (岡山駅) and head east. The distance is about 2km, and it takes about 25 minutes.
If you use trams
① JR Okayama Station, East Exit
↓ 3 min walk
② Okayama Ekimae Station (岡山駅前駅), Okayama Denki Higashiyama line
↓ 6 min tram
③ Get off at Shiroshita Station (城下駅)
↓ 10 min walk
④ Korakuen
Time : about 20 minutes
Fare : 120 yen
If you use buses
① JR Okayama Station, East Exit
↓ 3 min walk
② Okayama Station No.1 Bus stop (岡山駅), No.18 Fujiwara-danchi line（後楽園・藤原団地行）
↓ 12 min bus
③ Get off at Korakuen-mae stop (後楽園前)
↓ 5 min walk
④ Korakuen
Time : about 20 minutes
Fare : 140 yen
The bus comes to stops 2times/hour (in daytime).
Summary
At Korakuen, you can enjoy a traditional Japanese garden. Korakuen is an easily accessible sightseeing spot that can be reached in about 20 minutes from Okayama Station. Shinkansen (Kodama and Nozomi) stops at Okayama Station. How about visit this place together with the surrounding Okayama Castle (岡山城)?
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