Kagawa: Ritsurin Garden Guided Walking Tour

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2 hours (approximately)
Offered in: English

Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu stands as a premier example of Japanese historic garden design, showcasing the artistry of daimyo gardens. During this guided tour, visitors stroll through the lush landscape, revealing ponds, bridges, and carefully pruned trees along a scenic route. An expert guide shares the rich history and design principles of Japanese gardens, highlighting key features like the Hiraiho viewpoint and the iconic raised-root pine. A delightful tea break at Kikugetsu-tei adds a cultural touch, allowing guests to enjoy matcha while soaking in the serene surroundings. Choose between a local meeting point or a guided train journey from Takamatsu Station for a flexible experience.

- Explore the exquisite Ritsurin Garden, a masterpiece of Japanese design
- Learn about the historical significance and aesthetics of daimyo gardens
- Enjoy matcha at Kikugetsu-tei, surrounded by stunning views
- Flexible meeting options available for convenience, including local train travel

What's Included

Matcha tea experience at a garden teahouse
English-speaking guide
Admission to Ritsurin Garden
Optional guided train access from Takamatsu Station (if selected)
Guided walk through Ritsurin Garden
Meals other than tea break
Personal expenses

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point
You can choose from multiple locations at checkout.
End point

The tour ends near the center of Takamatsu City, with easy access to train stations and other public transportation.

Itinerary

Duration: 2 hours (approximately)
  • 1
    Ritsurin Garden

    Ritsurin Garden, located in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, is considered one of Japan’s finest historic gardens and a masterpiece of daimyo garden design. Developed over several centuries by the lords of the Takamatsu Domain, the garden is designed as a strolling landscape, where carefully composed views unfold step by step along winding paths. Featuring scenic ponds, artificial hills, bridges, and meticulously maintained pine trees, Ritsurin Garden showcases key techniques of traditional Japanese garden design, including miniature landscape representation and borrowed scenery that incorporates the surrounding mountains. More than a place of visual beauty, the garden reflects the cultural values, aesthetic sensibilities, and political background of the samurai era, offering visitors a refined and immersive experience of classical Japanese landscape art.

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
  • 2

    Kikugetsu-tei is a traditional teahouse located within Ritsurin Garden and one of the garden’s most atmospheric architectural features. Originally built as a place for receiving guests and enjoying refined leisure, the teahouse offers carefully framed views of the surrounding garden, where ponds, pine trees, and seasonal scenery are appreciated in quiet harmony. Visitors can enjoy a matcha tea experience here, allowing them to pause and take in the landscape as it was intended to be seen—seated, unhurried, and attentive to detail. The combination of tea, architecture, and garden scenery provides a calm and authentic introduction to Japanese aesthetics and the cultural role of teahouses within historic gardens.

    30 minutes • Admission ticket included

Additional info

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • As this tour involves walking through the garden, it is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Supplied by DeepExperience

Tags

Private Sightseeing Tours
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Art Tours
Rail Tours
Walking Tours

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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