Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo
Just a short walk from the world's busiest train station, Shinjuku Gyoen offers a peaceful escape with three distinct garden styles: a traditional Japanese Garden, a formal French Garden, and a sprawling English Landscape Garden. This variety ensures
a different kind of beauty no matter when you visit. In spring, the park is one of Tokyo's most celebrated cherry blossom destinations, with over 1,000 trees of various kinds creating a long blooming season. Summer brings lush greenery, with hydrangeas and roses adding bursts of color. Autumn is spectacular, as the maple trees in the Japanese garden turn fiery red and the ginkgo trees in the English garden become a brilliant gold. Winter offers a quiet, stark beauty, with clear, crisp air and the occasional dusting of snow transforming the landscape into a serene wonderland.
Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa
Considered one of Japan's three most beautiful landscape gardens, Kenrokuen was designed to embody the six essential attributes of a perfect garden: spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, abundant water, and broad views. This careful design means its beauty is constant. Spring arrives with soft plum blossoms in February, followed by a stunning display of cherry blossoms. In summer, the garden is a rich tapestry of green, with irises and azaleas blooming alongside its many ponds and streams. Autumn is a highlight, as the maple trees set the garden ablaze with color. But it is winter that gives Kenrokuen its most iconic look. The yukitsuri—rope structures meticulously arranged to protect the ancient pine trees from heavy snow—create a striking, sculptural beauty against the white landscape.
Ueno Park, Tokyo
Ueno Park is a vibrant cultural hub, home to museums, a zoo, and historic shrines, all set within a sprawling green space. Its seasonal transformations make it a year-round destination for locals and tourists alike. The park is most famous for its cherry blossom season, when over 1,000 sakura trees bloom along its central path, creating a magnificent pink tunnel that draws enormous crowds for hanami (flower viewing) parties. In summer, the focus shifts to Shinobazu Pond, which becomes covered in a sea of lotus flowers. The crisp air of autumn brings pleasant weather and beautiful fall foliage. Winter offers a quieter, more contemplative atmosphere, perfect for strolling and visiting the park’s numerous museums without the crowds.
Ritsurin Garden, Takamatsu
Awarded a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, Ritsurin Garden is a masterpiece of Japanese landscape design, featuring six ponds and 13 landscaped hills against the backdrop of Mt. Shiun. The garden is designed on the principle of 'ippo ikkei', meaning every step reveals a new view. While spring and autumn are considered peak seasons, its design offers profound beauty year-round. Spring sees around 300 cherry trees and colorful azaleas come into full bloom. Summer brings lush greenery and blooming irises and lotuses that decorate the ponds. In autumn, the garden is famous for its foliage, with maples and other trees creating a painterly scene, often enhanced by evening illuminations. Winter is a time of tranquility, with the elegant forms of nearly 1,400 manicured pine trees standing out against the quiet landscape.
