Yoshikien Garden
60-1 Noboriojicho, Nara, Kansai, 630-8213
Yoshikien Garden is a beautiful ornamental garden beside the ever-popular, sprawling Nara Park. Here you’ll find three distinct settings—a pond garden, moss garden, and tea ceremony garden. It’s a lovely place to stroll, especially as entry is free, and travelers with an interest in gardening, especially Japanese gardens, will get the most out of visiting.
The basics
Anyone who has spent a minute touring Japan will have noticed that traditional ornamental gardens are a big deal. But it’s rare to see three different types in one place, which is what makes Yoshikien Garden a great attraction. Close to many of Nara’s major landmarks—including Kofukuji Temple, Todaiji Temple, and the Nara National Museum—the gardens are easy to visit independently or as part of a guided tour of Nara Park.
Things to know before you go
- Admission to the gardens is free for foreign tourists, but you may need to show your passport.
- There’s a tearoom in the gardens, but this can only be used with a prior reservation.
- The garden is not very wheelchair accessible, as some of the paths are cobbled and the landscape is undulating. Otherwise, it’s not a very big garden, so it’s generally suitable for travelers with moderate mobility, and for kids.
How to get there
Yoshikien Garden is just across the road from the Nara National Museum and about a 10-minute walk from both Kofukuji and Todaiji Temples. Many people explore Nara on foot or by bicycle, and the garden is close enough to other main sights that these are the easiest ways to visit. If you’re arriving in Nara from elsewhere, the garden is about a 15-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station.
When to get there
Yoshikien Garden is open daily from morning until early evening, except for a few days at the end of February, when it is closed. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. Like other Japanese gardens, Yoshikien is most attractive in the spring and fall, when flowers and autumn leaves brighten it up. It can also be a nice, shaded place to walk in the hot summer.
Visit Isuien Garden
Right next to Yoshikien Garden and only divided by a small river is the Isuien Garden, another highlight for garden enthusiasts. Here you can see other traditional Japanese garden styles at work, including the concept of “borrowed scenery” in the form of Mt. Wakakusayama in the background. There are several teahouses throughout the grounds.
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