What is Kenrokuen like?

Along with Kairakuen Garden in Mito and Korakuen Garden in Okayama, Kenrokuen Garden is one of the three most famous gardens in Japan. It is a garden of great renown created over a long period of time by successive lords of the Kaga Clan. The garden boasts an area about 2.4 times the size of Tokyo Dome, and is rich in nature with 8,200 trees of about 160 varieties. The garden is a walking tour-style garden, and visitors can enjoy the scenery of the four seasons throughout the garden.

Kenrokuen in "spring" when 400 cherry trees are in full bloom.

Daytime stroll with the whole area tinted in pink

In spring, every part of the garden is tinted pink. In the vast garden, 400 cherry trees of about 40 varieties, mainly Someiyoshino cherry trees, are in full bloom. Another attraction is that visitors can enjoy rare varieties of cherry blossoms unique to Kenrokuen, such as Kenrokuen chrysanthemum cherry blossoms and Kenrokuen Kumagai cherry blossoms. In addition, the cherry blossoms at Kenrokuen are open free of charge for about a week when the best time to view them arrives, a tourist-friendly hospitality.

Hanami Bridge, where visitors can enjoy the cherry blossoms in full bloom along with the Kyokusui River, is the best viewing spot for cherry blossoms in the park. The gentle flow of the water is a tasteful accompaniment to the Kyokusui. The view from Kanazawa Viewing Platform, where you can enjoy the pink carpet of cherry blossoms, is also recommended.

Light up at night and open free of charge

Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle Park will be illuminated during the cherry blossom viewing season, creating a beautiful spring evening. During the illumination period, Kenrokuen Garden will be open free of charge, giving visitors a chance to fully enjoy the garden at night, which is normally inaccessible. During the lighting-up period, the garden is open free of charge and visitors can fully enjoy the garden at night, which is normally inaccessible. The Kotjitouro (Chinese lantern) and the fresh green trees are illuminated by the fantastic light.
In Kanazawa Castle Park, the Ishikawa Gate, Kahokimon Gate, and Hishi Yagura (water chestnut turret) are lit up, giving them a different and more powerful appearance than in the daytime.

Enjoy the elegant nighttime cherry blossoms in the castle town

Cherry blossom viewing at night is also an enjoyable experience during the illuminated period. There are approximately 400 cherry trees in Kenrokuen Garden, including "Kenrokuen Chrysanthemum Cherry Blossoms," "Kenrokuen Kumagai," and "Yang Kai," which are rarely seen in other places, and the blooming period varies depending on the variety, so you can enjoy viewing cherry blossoms for a long period.
Kanazawa Castle Park has approximately 400 cherry trees, and the rows of cherry trees along the garden path at the Ishikawa Gate are breathtakingly beautiful. One of the highlights of the "Gyokuseninmaru Garden," which was created by Maeda Toshitsune, the third lord of the Kaga Domain, and loved by successive lords of the domain, is the unique variety of stone walls. The shadows of the stone walls and the light red cherry blossoms that emerge in the darkness create an indescribable atmosphere.

Free admission to Kenrokuen Garden & Cherry Blossom Light-up at Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden
URL: https://www.kanazawa-kankoukyoukai.or.jp/event/detail_30334.html
Venue: Kenrokuen Garden (1 Kenroku-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture)
Period: Around early April
Time: 7:00 - 21:30 (light-up: sunset - 21:30)
Kanazawa Castle Park Hishi Yagura, etc. 9:00 - 16:30 (last admission 16:00)
Fee：Free admission during the period (Kanazawa Castle Park Hishi Yagura, etc.: admission fee 320 yen)
TEL: 076-234-3800 (Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management Office, Ishikawa Prefecture)
Parking: No parking (use nearby toll parking lots)

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Another good time to visit is in mid-March, when 200 plum trees of about 20 varieties are in full bloom.

Kenrokuen Garden in "summer" with fireflies and illumination

In early summer, azaleas and kakitsubata bloom, providing a contrast to the lush, fresh greenery. The 40,000 kakitsubata (azalea and kakitsubata) blooming along the Kyokusui River are at their best in early June, and are a sight to behold.

During the summer season, visitors can enjoy the free illumination of Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden during two periods: "Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Light-up 'Early Summer Stage'" and "Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Light-up 'Summer Stage'". During these periods, "Light-up Concerts" are held and music by the "Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa" is played as background music, allowing visitors to enjoy the event with all five senses.

The "Firefly Appreciation Party," held annually around early July, is a popular event in which Kenrokuen Garden is opened free of charge at night and visitors can enjoy the fantastic light of fireflies. The garden is surrounded by greenery and the clean water of the Tatsumi Irrigation Canal, making it a great place to view genji and heike fireflies even though it is located in the middle of the city. The Kanazawa Firefly Association provides guided tours, so there is no substitute for a relaxing evening in the cool of the city.

Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Light-up "Early Summer Stage
Time: Saturday, June 7, 2025

Firefly Appreciation Party at Kenrokuen
Period: June 27 (Fri.)-28 (Sat.), July 4 (Fri.)-5 (Sat.), 2025

Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Light-up "Summer Stage
Period: August 9 (Sat.)-10 (Sun.), 16 (Sat.), 23 (Sat.), and 30 (Sat.), 2025
https://kenrokuen.or.jp/illumination/

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Along with the lighting up of Kenrokuen, enjoy the coolness of the summer season.

Enjoy the colorful world of Kenrokuen Garden in "Autumn

In October, the trees gradually begin to change color and Kenrokuen Garden turns into the season of autumn leaves. The best time to view the autumn leaves is usually in mid-November. About 360 maple trees are planted in the park, and their vivid red and yellow colors are breathtaking.

Yamazaki, where there are many deciduous trees such as maples and zelkova, is known as "Momijiyama" (Mt. Autumn Leaves) because of the gorgeous colors of the autumn leaves. It is the best spot for viewing the autumn leaves in Kenrokuen.

When the autumn leaves are at their best, Kenrokuen Garden is open to the public free of charge at night for a limited time. From November 1, "Yuki-hanging" will be installed to prevent branches from being broken by the weight of snow, and visitors can enjoy the contrast between the hanging snow and the autumn leaves.

Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Light-up "Autumn Stage
Period: October 18 (Sat), 25 (Sat), November 1 (Sat)-2 (Sun), 8 (Sat), 15 (Sat), 22 (Sat)-23 (Sun), 29 (Sat), 2025
https://kenrokuen.or.jp/illumination/

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The maple trees dancing on the moss are also beautiful. Please also enjoy the colors created by the contrast between them.

Be entranced by the snow hangings, a wintertime tradition at Kenrokuen Garden.

Yukis hanging" is synonymous with winter in Kenrokuen Garden. The ropes strung radially from the tops of the trees are a work of art. The snow hangings on the trees in the park remind us of the coming of winter, and the scenery, which is unique to snow country, is very exciting. The Karasaki Pine, located by Kasumigaike Pond, has a particularly strong presence. It is surprising that about 800 ropes are used to hang the Karasaki pine tree from the snow.

Snow falls in Kanazawa from December to February, but in recent years the amount of snowfall has been decreasing due to the mild winter. The pure white snowy landscape tends to be rare, so be sure to enjoy it on the days when it does accumulate.

During the year-end and New Year holidays from December 31 to January 3, Kenrokuen Garden is open free of charge. The "Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Light-up "Winter Stage"" held around mid-February offers a free illumination of the garden.

Free admission during the year-end and New Year's holidays
Period: December 31-January 3, 8:00-17:00
The park is open all night from December 31 to January 1 at 8:00 a.m. (*Sakuragaoka-guchi and Kamisaka-guchi gates are closed)

Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Light-up "Winter Stage
Period: February 7 (Sat), 14 (Sat), 21 (Sat), 28 (Sat), 2026
https://kenrokuen.or.jp/illumination/

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The snow hanging can be seen from November to mid-March. Many people are intoxicated by the beautiful formations.