Kairakuen - Three Great Gardens of JapanKairakuen - Three Great Gardens of Japan

Refreshing and relaxing course to "feel the yin and the yang"

Refreshing and relaxing course to
"feel the yin and the yang"

Time required
45 minutes to Rakujuro.
Suitable for
  • ・First time visitors.
  • ・Those who want to experience Nariaki's vision of the garden.
  • ・Those who want to experience the essence of Kairakuen in a limited time.
  • ・Enjoyable even in the off-season.

Take your time to refresh and enjoy. It is a 10-minute walk from Kobuntei to the East Gate. Check the time in advance for the bus bound for Mito Station for your return journey.

  • 好文亭表門

    Kobuntei Omotemon (Kobuntei Main Gate)FRONT GATE

    MAP01
    ▲Also called the Kuromon (black gate) due to the Sho-en (soot of burnt pine) coloring.
    The main gate that has invited guests into the world of yin and yang since its establishment.

    The main gate of Kairakuen. It survived the devastating fires of the war in 1945 and has undergone several renovations since its founding. Enter here, pass through the bamboo grove and the giant cedar forest to reach Kobuntei, and experience the "world of yin and yang" created by Nariaki.

  • 孟宗竹林

    MOUSOU BAMBOO FORESTMOUSOU BAMBOO FOREST

    MAP02
    ▲Transplanted from Kyoto by Nariaki as a suitable material for bows.
    The overwhelming presence creates the darkness in the world of yin and yang.

    Pass through the rustic front gate and immediately to the left is a bamboo grove. More than 1,000 Moso bamboo, the largest bamboo in Japan, are planted here. Paired with a group of giant cedar trees on the right, it is surrounded by greenery throughout the year, calming the minds of all those who pass by.

  • 吐玉泉

    TOGYOKUSEN（A NATURAL SPRING）TOGYOKUSEN（A NATURAL SPRING）

    MAP03
    ▲The beautiful white marble is "Kansuiseki" from Hitachiota City.
    Water catchment system that utilizes the elevation of the terrain effectively.

    The Kairakuen area had abundant water springs, and the water was believed to be effective against eye diseases. Nariaki installed a self-watering spring with a white well in consideration of the landscape. It is paired with the oldest fountain in the country, the Gyokuryusen, located under Sakurayama. The current well is the fourth generation and releases approximately 100 tons of water per day.

  • 好文亭

    KOUBUN-TEI KOUBUN-TEI

    MAP04
    ▲The main building is designed to be "enjoyed with the people of the domain" with a shingled roof, while the inner palace is with a thatched roof.
    Simple and elegant designed by the feudal lord himself.

    It consists of the Kobuntei, a wooden two-layer three-story building, and the Okugoten, a wooden one-story inner palace. It is said that Nariaki himself decided on the location and architectural design of the "Kobuntei". Nariaki used it as his personal villa where he and the people of the domain would entertain themselves.
    "Kobun" is a popular name for Japanese plums. It was named by Nariaki based on the legend of Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty, that "If you study hard, the plums will blossom, but if you neglect to study, they will not".
    It was completely destroyed by fire in an air raid on Mito before dawn on August 2, 1945, but was restored over a period of three years from 1955 and has remained to this day.