Kanazawa Travel: Kenrokuen Garden

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Kenrokuen Garden

of 9 most visited
sights in Kanazawa

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Kenrokuen (兼六園) is justifiably classified as one of Japan's "three most beautiful landscape gardens" alongside Mito's Kairakuen and Okayama's Korakuen. Many people consider it the best of them all.

The spacious garden used to be the outer garden of Kanazawa Castle. Constructed by the ruling Maeda family over a period of nearly two centuries, it was not opened to the public until 1871.

Restaurants and shops just outside the garden

Kenrokuen features various ponds, streams, waterfalls, bridges, teahouses, trees, stones and flowers. The water for the many streams and rivers of the park is diverted from a distant river by a sophisticated water system constructed in 1632.

The name Kenrokuen literally means "Garden of the Six Sublimities", referring to spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, abundant water and broad views, which according to Chinese landscape theory are the six essential attributes that make up a perfect garden.

Any Questions? Ask them in our question forum.

How to get there

Frequently departing Hokutetsu buses provide access from Kanazawa Station (East Exit bus stop number 3) to Kenrokuen in about 15 minutes and for 200 yen. Get off at Kenrokuen-shita bus stop, which is a short walk from the main entrance of Kenrokuen. Alternatively, there are 2-3 JR buses per hour from Kanazawa Station (East Exit bus stop number 4), which are covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

Kenrokuen is also a stop along the tourist oriented Kanazawa Loop Bus and Kenrokuen Shuttle Bus, which take approximately 20 minutes from Kanazawa Station to Kenrokuen.

How to get to and around Kanazawa

Google Map

Hours and Fees

Hours:	Regular Hours: March 1 to October 15: 7:00 to 18:00 October 16 through February: 8:00 to 17:00 Early Admission Hours: From 5:00 (Apr to Aug from 4:00, Nov to Feb from 6:00) Early admission visitors must exit the garden 15 minutes before the regular opening.
Closed:	No closing days
Admission:	300 yen (free during early admission hours)

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Hotels and Ryokan

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Kanazawa Hakuchoro Hotel
Perfect location for sightseeing in Kanazawa.
Easy access to Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen.

Crowne Plaza Hotel
Convenient hotel just in front of Kanazawa Station.
Reserve through Agoda

Dormy Inn Kanazawa
Good value business hotel with onsen next to Kanazawa Station.
Reserve through Agoda or Japanican

Kanazawa Excel Hotel Tokyu
Convenient hotel located in the center of Kanazawa.
Reserve through Japanican

Nikko Kanazawa Hotel
One of the best hotels in town, located just in front of Kanazawa Station.
Reserve through Agoda or Japanican

User Ratings

Ratings for Kenrokuen:

japan-guide.com Rating:		best of the best
User Rating (by 379 users):	91/100	highly recommended

Best rated sights nationwide (out of 725):

42. Tokyo DisneySea (Tokyo) 91/100

43. Otaru Snow Light Path (Otaru) 91/100

44. Ghibli Museum (Tokyo) 91/100

45. Awa Odori (Tokushima) 91/100

46. Nakasendo Hiking (Kiso Valley) 91/100

47. Kenrokuen (Kanazawa) 91/100

48. Izumo Taisha (Matsue) 90/100

49. Kanamaruza Theater (Kotohira) 90/100

50. Kobe Beef (Kobe) 90/100

51. Hasedera Temple (Asuka) 90/100

Most visited sights nationwide (out of 836):

88. Hakone Tozan Railway (Hakone) 743

89. NHK Studiopark (Tokyo) 726

90. Akasaka Sacas (Tokyo) 714

91. Honganji Temples (Kyoto) 702

92. Sengakuji Temple (Tokyo) 700

93. Kenrokuen (Kanazawa) 689

94. Engakuji Temple (Kamakura) 687

95. Kappabashi Street (Tokyo) 684

96. Chionin Temple (Kyoto) 676

97. Futarasan Shrine (Nikko) 670

User Feedback

English Links

Kenrokuen
Official English website.

Japanese Links

Kenrokuen
Official website.

Related Pages

Travel
Sightseeing
Chubu Region
Kanazawa

Gardens

Kenrokuen Garden
Seisonkaku Villa
Kanazawa Castle Park
Oyama Shrine
Nagamachi Samurai District
Ninja Temple
Chaya Districts
Omicho Market
21st Century Museum

Kanazawa Museum Guide

Kanazawa: Access and Orientation

News and Reports

	April 10, 2013 Kanazawa Cherry Blossom Report by sean
	April 15, 2012 Kanazawa Cherry Blossom Report by sean
	November 23, 2011 Kanazawa Autumn Color Report by schauwecker
	April 14, 2011 Kanazawa Cherry Blossom Report by francois
	Kanazawa Cherry Blossom Report April 9, 2010
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