Ritsurin Garden Takamatsu Guide 2026: Prices, Hours & Tips

:: Spot ::

🛤 Takamatsu Ritsurin Garden 🛤

📑 Table of Contents
01	Ritsurin Garden Basic Information
02	How to Get to Ritsurin Garden, Lockers
03	The Expansive Ritsurin Garden, What are the Main Spots?
04	Ritsurin Garden Boat Ride, Tea Ceremony Experience
05	Helpful Tips Before Visiting Ritsurin Garden

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During my trip to Takamatsu, Japan,

one place that truly stood out was

Ritsurin Garden.

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It's famous as a Japanese-style garden,

but I initially wondered,

'What could a privately-created garden possibly offer?'

It's a bit like Korea's Geoje Botania, haha

(though the ambiance is quite different, of course!).

With its ponds, bridges, and beautifully maintained pine trees,

the garden is quite large,

and there's a surprising variety of things to see inside! 💚

I've compiled all the useful information to know

before visiting Ritsurin Garden, a popular spot often sought after in Takamatsu!

Ritsurin Garden Info at a Glance 🤓
Period	Open Year-Round
Opening Hours	Dec, Jan Feb Mar Apr, May, Sep Jun, Jul, Aug Oct Nov	7:00 ~ 17:00 7:00 ~ 17:30 6:30 ~ 18:00 5:30 ~ 18:30 5:30 ~ 19:00 6:00～17:30 6:30 ~ 17:00
Admission Fee	Adults 500 JPY / Junior/Senior High School Students 170 JPY / Preschoolers Free
Estimated Time	2-3 hours (may vary for individuals)
Experiences	Boat Ride (Wasen), Tea Ceremony Cafe, Snack Bar

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01 Ritsurin Garden Basic Information

Operating Hours, Admission Fee, Estimated Time

Ritsurin Garden is one of Takamatsu's most iconic

Japanese gardens.

There are no steep hills or difficult paths;

it's mostly flat,

so it would be wonderful to visit

with parents.

Everywhere you look, it's lush green –

green here, green there! 🌿

The opening and closing times for Ritsurin Garden

vary depending on the month you visit Takamatsu,

so be sure to check in advance.

It generally opens early in the morning

and closes early in the afternoon,

so it's best to take your time exploring.

Personally, I arrived around 2 PM

and left around 5 PM.

I wondered why it took so long when I didn't feel like I did much!

ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

You can purchase tickets on-site.

The admission fee is 500 JPY for adults,

and preschoolers enter free.

Card payments are also accepted.

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02 How to Get to Ritsurin Garden, Lockers

Ritsurin Garden is not difficult to get to from Takamatsu city center,

so you can easily reach it by taking the

Kotoden (train) or bus.

I walked about 20 minutes to Ritsurin Garden

from a restaurant near my hotel!

How to Get to Takamatsu Ritsurin Garden
JR Kotoku Line	Ritsurin-Koen-Kitaguchi Station (栗林公園 北口駅)	3-minute walk
Kotoden	Ritsurin-Koen Station (栗林公園駅)	10-minute walk
Bus	Ritsurin-Koen-mae Bus Stop (栗林公園 前)	1-minute walk

For those coming directly to Ritsurin Garden

from the airport,

you can also use the lockers available.

The prices vary by size:

200 / 300 / 400 JPY.

There are 30 lockers near the East Gate,

and 6 near the North Gate.

Since there aren't a huge number, if they're full,

you can leave your luggage at the tourist information office for 400 JPY per item.

What's great about Ritsurin Garden is that they offer

free rentals of wheelchairs, strollers, and adult walkers! 💯

It's also wonderful for those with mobility challenges

or for visiting with kids!

This is precisely why I recommend it as a must-visit

healing spot in Takamatsu.

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03 Ritsurin Garden: It's Huge!

What are the Main Spots?

Ritsurin Garden is surprisingly spacious,

so if you plan to explore the entire thing,

it might take more time than you expect.

I took a boat ride and visited a cafe,

and before I knew it, the 3-hour closing time flew by! ^^;

So, let me tell you about the

main photo spots! 😙

1️⃣ Nanko Pond

Nanko Pond is a spot in Ritsurin Garden

you simply can't miss.

Trees and bridges stretch around the pond,

and it's a place where you can admire

the garden scenery reflected in the water.

It's quite large, so as you walk,

you'll quickly come across it.

And guess what? I spotted a King Koi here...!!

2️⃣ Engetsu-kyo Bridge

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Engetsu-kyo Bridge is arguably the most famous?

It's a quintessential bridge in Ritsurin Garden for taking beautiful photos.

With the surrounding trees and pond, it's perfect

for capturing the quintessential Japanese garden landscape.

If only I had a drone, I could capture it

from afar... haha!

It looks even more beautiful when photographed

from a bit further away, capturing

the surrounding scenery along with it ♥

But with so many people,

it's quite tricky to get the timing just right... ^^

3️⃣ Hiraiho

Hiraiho is a quintessential viewing spot

where you can admire the garden scenery

from a slightly elevated vantage point.

It's ideal for taking in the layout

of the pond and garden at a glance,

making it arguably the best place to snap photos

in Ritsurin Garden!

🗺 I'll also upload the Korean version of the map here.

These three spots are all clustered together

in the western part of Ritsurin Garden,

so I recommend visiting them first.

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04 Ritsurin Garden Boat Ride & Tea Ceremony Experience

At Ritsurin Garden,

you can explore Nanko Pond on a

traditional Japanese boat.

It was so much fun because it offered a completely different way

to enjoy the pond and surrounding scenery

compared to just walking through the garden, lol!

If you're looking for a unique experience,

this is definitely worth considering.

We were able to purchase tickets

right there on the spot :)

Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu also has cafes,

and I highly recommend visiting one!

Ritsurin Garden has two cafes, Kikuchintei and Higurashitei,

but we opted for Kikuchintei, which offers a panoramic view of Nanko Pond.

It's a place where you can experience a traditional tea ceremony,

and since I'd never done one even in Korea,

I found it incredibly fascinating!

Even if you don't speak Japanese, it was easy enough to just follow along, haha!

After enjoying our tea, it was wonderful to take photos

around the cafe, gaze at the pond,

and simply spend some relaxing time there 💕

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05 Tips to Know Before Visiting

Ritsurin Garden

I really want to recommend Ritsurin Garden

as a must-visit in Takamatsu, so let me put together

some helpful tips to know before you go!

1️⃣ Plan your sightseeing route before entering

If you want to take photos inside the park,

ride a boat, and even enjoy some tea,

you'll need more time than you might expect.

I even found myself there right until closing time,

and had to rush out! 💦

First, grab a park map

and decide which spots you absolutely want to see,

it'll be much easier to plan your route.

2️⃣ Lace Up Your Comfy Shoes!

Since you'll be strolling and exploring the gardens on foot,

I highly recommend wearing comfortable shoes.

As you leisurely walk around, snapping photos,

you might cover more ground than you anticipated!

That's why taking a break at a cafe mid-stroll was

such a blissful, healing moment 😌

3️⃣ Double-Check Boat Rides & Tea House Availability

While the park itself is open year-round,

the boats and tea houses might have different operating hours or conditions

than the park's general admission.

If riding a traditional boat is on your must-do list,

it's best to confirm reservation availability and boarding times

in advance.

Takamatsu Traditional Boat (Wasan) Operation Info
Operating Hours	Daily 9:00 ~ 16:00
Boarding Fee	Adult 920 JPY / Child 310 JPY

4️⃣ Get Your Japan Travel Data Ready in Advance!

When you're exploring smaller cities like Takamatsu,

you'll often need to check maps, confirm public transport,

and search for restaurant information.

Ritsurin Garden itself is quite expansive,

so finding your way around can eat up a lot of time and battery life

on your phone.

If you're planning to use an eSIM for Japan,

first confirm if your phone supports eSIM,

then compare usage periods and data capacities

to match your travel itinerary! 💚

📱 eSIM 50% Discount Available Only This Month!

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Ritsurin Garden is a fantastic spot during your Takamatsu trip

to leisurely explore Japanese-style gardens,

and admire the scenery of ponds, bridges, and majestic pine trees –

truly a healing destination.

If you have some extra time, I also recommend taking a traditional boat ride

or enjoying matcha tea at Kikgetsutei.

If you're still contemplating whether to visit,

use the discount code below to snag some flight deals and have a wonderful trip! 🤗

(Maximum ~$9 discount)

✈ Seoul ↔ Takamatsu Flight Discount Code 3HAFLT3

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