Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-10-04 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
Our guide
Ritsurin Garden, in Takamatsu, was completed in 1745 as the private strolling garden and villa of the local lords, and opened to the public in 1875. It is one of the largest strolling gardens in Japan, laid out in a former river bed on the east side of Mount Shiun, with many ponds and small artificial hills. The two halves feel different: the southern part is in the traditional Japanese style, with historic teahouses and many shaped pines, while the northern part was redesigned in a Western style after the garden became public.
Ritsurin-Kōen-Kitaguchi Station is about 500 m away in a straight line. Sanuki Udon is about 1.4 km off and Takamatsu Castle about 2.2 km. We have not checked opening hours or fees.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Ritsurin — Leela Soden · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Ritsurin park05s3200 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Ritsurin park04s3200 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Ritsurin park02s3200 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- Ritsurin garden senshumaru — ブルーノ・プラス · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Ritsurin garden kikugetsutei — ブルーノ・プラス · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Ritsurin garden kangetsu bridge — ブルーノ・プラス · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Ritsurin Garden 栗林公園の古民芸館 — やしまのお城 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Ritsurin Garden 掬月亭 — やしまのお城 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Ritsurin Garden 小普陀の石組 — やしまのお城 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Ritsurin Garden (栗林公園, Ritsurin Kōen) is a large, historic garden in Takamatsu, Japan. It was completed in 1745 as a private strolling garden and villa for the local feudal lords, and opened to the public in 1875. Ritsurin is one of the largest strolling gardens in Japan, and a major tourist attraction for Kagawa Prefecture. Ritsurin Garden lies in a former river bed on the east side of Mt. Shiun. Numerous ponds and small artificial hills dot the garden. The southern portion is in traditional Japanese style, with historic teahouses and numerous shaped pine trees. After becoming a public garden in 1875, the north portion underwent Western-style redesigns, and a large museum (currently the multipurpose Commerce and Industry Promotion Hall) and folk craft galleries were built in the center of the garden. For a time, the garden even housed a zoo and swimming pool, since closed and removed.
Visitor information checked: 2026-10-04 · Official visiting information
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Park & garden
Nearby station
Nearby station: Ritsurin-Kōen-Kitaguchi (Kōtoku Line), about 500 m from the spot in a straight line.
Worked out on 2026-09-14 from this place’s map position, using HeartRails Express station data and station names from Wikidata. The distance is a straight line, not a walking route, and says nothing about buses, transfers or timetables — plan the trip on Google Maps.
Traveler reviews
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