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Our tour leader Brett often takes travellers around Japan on various small group tours. On these tours, tourists are able to visit many varied locations; some well-known and others not. In this blog piece, Brett shines a light on one of the more over-looked locations, the beautiful Ritsurin Garden.
Asked to name famous cities in Japan, answers would come quickly to most people. Tokyo. Osaka. Hiroshima. Kyoto, definitely. Maybe even Kobe. Fantastic, magical cities, to be sure. But all of those places reside on Honshu, the most visited of Japan’s four main islands. The other three islands – Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku – are much less known and, consequently, are less visited. This is a shame as Shikoku in particular is full of amazing culture and sights, one being the beautiful Ritsurin Garden.
Located in the port city of Takamatsu, Ritsurin Garden has a long history steeped in the mountains surrounding the Seto Inland Sea. In the early 17th century, the feudal lord Ikoma Takatoshi ordered the garden built to magnify the beauty of Nan-ko, a pond located in his fief. Using the technique of borrowed scenery, the architects used the stunning Mt. Shiun as a backdrop to the park. The result is an amazing oasis of green, set among the various lakes and buildings in the area.
Though oversight of the garden was taken over by a different lord, Matsudaira Yorishige, in 1642, Ritsurin wasn’t completed until a century later. This careful planning, pruning, and growing of the garden over centuries is immediately evident as soon as you enter. Everything within the garden grounds feels very deliberate, as the garden has changed little over the centuries. Exquisite waterfalls, an ancient teahouse, and ponds full of carp have all been meticulously planned and maintained.
The garden itself feels very rarified, and with good reason. This amazing place has only been open to the public since 1875, making it a relative newcomer among the gardens of Japan.
Though it continues to be in the shadow of Japan’s Three Best Gardens – Kenrokuen in Kanazawa, Kairakuen in Mito, and Korakuen in Okayama – Ritsurin deserves a place alongside these more well-known gardens. So, if you find yourself in the neighborhood (or on our Hidden Japan small group tour!) give Ritsurin Garden a look!
