KORAKUEN

Korakuen is a Japanese garden in Okayama and is a part of the three great gardens of Japan. This garden was built in the 1700s by Ikeda Tsunamasa, the Lord of Okayama and it reached its peak in the mid 1860s. This garden was designed by Zhu Zhiyu- one of the greatest scholars of Confucianism from the Ming Dynasty and was built after the Okayama castle.

Although the garden was built in the 1700s, the garden continues to retain the original structure ever since then. The garden continues to have paintings from the Edo period and the Ikeda family records too. Apart from the greenery and spots for entertaining guests, there is also a spa that is worth checking out. Later, the ownership was transferred to Okayama government and was opened to the public. Today, this garden is now declared as a special scenic location and is considered to be a historical asset.

Highlights

• Take a guided tour of the Korakuen and admire the greenery of the garden during the peak summer and spring season.
• Visit the garden during november and check out the illumination of the light decorations at its best.
• Visit the garden during the cherry blossom season and check out the cherry blossom trees in the garden.
• Visit the Okayama castle and learn what it is like to live in a castle dating back to feudal times.
• Take a day trip to Kurashiki and explore the historical quarter that dates back to the 1600s.

How To Reach

By Car: The Korakuen is 3.2 km from the city centre, it will take 12 min via Route number 21.

By Bus: Take a bus to Korakuen mae station which is 400 metres away from the museum. You can reach the activity location from the bus station with a 5-minute walk.

Best Time To Visit

Korakuen is open throughout the year, so you can plan your visit to this place at any time of the year. 

• The best season to visit Korakuen will be the summer season from March to June because this is the time when the climate is pleasant. 

• The best day in the week will be the weekdays due to less crowds regardless of any time of the year. 

• The best time of the day to visit Korakuen will be in the morning due to less crowds and a favourable temperature.

Other Essential Information

• Download google translate to help you get around the city and the premises of the Korakuen garden. 
• Get a JR pass to help you travel from one place to another without spending much on travel.
• Check out the cherry blossoms in the garden during the summer season and see the garden at its best. 
• You will need at least 2 to 3 hours to explore the garden completely and to check out the greenery. 
• Try visiting the garden in November during the Garden of Dreams event to check out the light installations in the premises.