Ritsurin-koen

Ritsurin-koen Review

If you have time for only one thing in Takamatsu, make it a visit here. Built by a feudal lord in the 17th century, this garden became public property after the 19th-century Meiji Restoration and is now a registered National Treasure. Ritsurin contains close to a thousand sculpted pine trees, six carp-filled lakes, and two wooden teahouses where samurai used to gather to perform the tea ceremony and compose haiku. Give yourself about two hours to stroll through the garden, and don't miss Kikugetsu-tei teahouse, which serves green tea and snacks daily 9 to 4:30. The garden is especially peaceful in the early morning or late afternoon. English maps are available at the entrance. It's a 10-minute taxi ride from Takamatsu Station, a 3-minute walk from JR Ritsurin Kita-guchi Station, or a 10-minute walk from Kotoden Ritsurin Koen Station.