Kenroku-en Garden

兼六園

The most famous sight in Kanazawa, the Garden of Six Attributes is considered one of Japan's Top 3 gardens. Once the outer pleasure gardens of the Maeda Lords, it gradually expanded to take over the entire block. While not completed in its final form until the waning years of the Edo Shogunate, it still represents one of the peaks of Japanese strolling garden design. The way in which water is piped from many kilometres upstream to fill its streams and ponds before going on to fill the castle moats is one of the great engineering feats of the Edo period. In part of the grounds, and with a steep separate ¥700 entrance fee, is the Seisonkaku Villa, built by a Maeda lord for his mother. Only part of it remains, but is a rare example of existing daimyo palace architecture. The upper floor, with its bright blues and reds, is in distinct contrast to the muted earth tones of Kyoto style. During cherry blossom season, entry to the park is free and it's open and lit up until 21:00.

• outdoors
• history
• family

Hours

Daily 07:00-18:00 in summer, 08:00-17:00 in winter (mid-October to end of February)

Price

¥320 (free on Culture Day, Nov 3rd), and ¥100 for children age 6-17; ¥500 when combined with a ticket to one of several nearby museums.

Website

pref.ishikawa.jp (opens in a new tab)