Kenroku-en is one of the most beautiful and famous gardens in Japan. You might think that after all the gardens in Tokyo, Sendai, and Himeji, I would have had enough of them. But every garden is different, and even in the anything-but-friendly, cold winter weather in Kanazawa, the park was absolutely worth seeing. I will definitely visit there again in spring or autumn!
Kanazawa Castle
On the way from the hotel to the park I passed the grounds of Kanazawa Castle. Like many other Japanese castles, fires and other natural disasters have destroyed most of the original structure. Only a gate and a longhouse have survived unscathed. There is some ongoing restoration of the remaining structure, but unfortunately, the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake has put a temporary stop to it. You can still get a pretty good impression of the complex, which stands slightly elevated on a hill above the city. The size of the castle gives an impression of the wealth of the Maeda family. They were the feudal lords of the Kaga region in the Edo period and among the richest daimyo.
Kenroku-en, one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan
The Maeda family created the Kenroku-en gardens in the late 17th century and opened them to the public in 1874. It is only a few meters from Kanazawa Castle along a quiet road. The park is generally considered to be a model that perfectly implements the Six Principles for Landscape Gardens – hence the name of the garden.
The entrance fee is around 350 ¥, so it’s a bargain, especially since you can easily spend several hours there. One of the most famous places is Lake Kasumigaike. There you can find the famous two-legged lantern Kotojitoro with the rainbow bridge and the bridge of the flying wild geese.
Hisagoike Lake is also very beautiful with lots of water features. Unfortunately, the Shigure teahouse was already fully booked and I arrived later than expected, so I missed out there once again.