Written by Carey Finn
Even if you’re not an enthusiast of Japanese gardens, it’s well worth making Ritsurin Garden a stop on your travels should you be staying in Takamatsu. It offers a smorgasbord of Japanese Garden features, including cherry blossom, plum blossom, shaped bushes, square pines, ponds with Koi fish, wooden bridges, and—if you’re lucky—a kimono-clad couple or two strolling around.
The place opens early, and closes around sunset. Volunteer guides, recorded audio guides and coin lockers are available. Wheelchairs, baby strollers and walkers can be borrowed free of charge for use in the garden.
Of special note to cheapos: Free Admission days are January 1 (New Year’s Day) and March 16 (Opening Day Anniversary).
Suggested Activity
Go Bar Hopping in Osaka [With Full Dinner]
Spend an evening exploring the bars in Osaka's popular nightlife district of Namba. Sample tasty Japanese pub-style food, and wash it down with your choice of drinks, from sake to umeshu and beer — all in the company of a knowledgeable guide!
栗林公園
1 Chome-20-16 Ritsurinchō, Takamatsu-shi, Kagawa-ken 760-0073, Japan
December, January: 7am-5pm February: 7am-5:30pm March: 6:30am-6pm April, May, September: 5:30am-6:30pm June, July, August: 5:30am-7:00pm October: 6:00am-5:30pm November: 6:30am-5:00pm
Adults: ¥410
Children: ¥170
Children: ¥170
Parking available
Premises are wheelchair accessible
- 494 m from Ritsurin-Kōen-Kitaguchi Kōtoku Line
- 0.9 km from Ritsurin Station Kōtoku Line
