🕓 2024/12/15
#Tourist Spot
A Detailed Guide to the History and Overview of Kenrokuen Garden
Table of Contents
Introduction
Kenrokuen is a historic garden located in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, renowned as one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. True to its name, it embodies the six landscape beauties of “spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, waterways, and panoramas,” captivating visitors with its beautiful expressions that change with each of the four seasons. Built by the Maeda family of the Kaga domain during the Edo period, this garden has been expanded and refined through many eras, evolving into the form we see today.
In this article, we introduce the history and highlights of Kenrokuen in detail to help you gain a deeper understanding of its appeal. Please use this as a reference when visiting Kenrokuen and enjoy the rich nature and historical culture.
What Is Kenrokuen?
Kenrokuen is one of Japan’s most representative gardens, located in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, and is designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the national government. Together with Korakuen in Okayama and Kairakuen in Mito, it is known as one of the “Three Great Gardens of Japan.” Spanning approximately 11.7 hectares, visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery of each season.
Its origins date back to 1676 (Enpo 4), when Maeda Tsunanori, the fifth lord of the Kaga domain, constructed a villa called “Renchi Goten” on the outer grounds of Kanazawa Castle and created the “Renchi-tei” garden around it. The name “Kenrokuen” was given in 1822 (Bunsei 5), when Matsudaira Sadanobu cited the Chinese classic “Record of Famous Gardens of Luoyang,” referencing the six landscape qualities of “spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, waterways, and panoramas” that the garden embodies.
Covering approximately 11.4 hectares, the grounds are designed as a strolling pond garden with ponds, artificial hills, and teahouses, allowing visitors to enjoy the beautiful scenery of each season. Particularly notable is the “yukitsuri” (snow-hanging) performed in winter, a traditional technique to protect tree branches from the weight of snow, known as a signature winter tradition of Kenrokuen.
Famous spots including the “Kotoji-toro” lantern and “Kasumigaike” pond are scattered throughout the garden, captivating visitors. Due to its historical value and beauty, it was designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the national government in 1985 (Showa 60) and has become a popular destination attracting many tourists.
History of Kenrokuen
Kenrokuen is a representative daimyo garden located in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, with a history built by the successive lords of the Kaga domain’s Maeda family. Below, we detail the major events in Kenrokuen’s history in chronological order.
1. 1676 (Enpo 4): Creation of Renchi-tei
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The fifth lord, Maeda Tsunanori, constructed a villa called “Renchi Goten” on the sloping terrain north of Kanazawa Castle and created a garden around it. This garden was called “Renchi-tei” and served as a place of rest for Tsunanori and his retainers. The Renchi-tei featured a strolling pond garden design that skillfully utilized the natural terrain. This garden became the foundation for what would later become Kenrokuen.
2. 1759 (Horeki 9): Destruction in the Great Horeki Fire
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On April 10, Horeki 9, a massive fire broke out in the castle town of Kanazawa. The fire, originating from Shunsho-ji temple near Rokuto no Hiromi, was fanned by strong winds and spread across the Sai River to devastate most of the city, destroying Kanazawa Castle and much of the castle town. This “Great Horeki Fire” also destroyed much of the Renchi-tei, leaving the garden in ruin. This fire is recorded as one of the greatest disasters in Kanazawa’s history.
3. 1774 (An’ei 3): Reconstruction of Renchi-tei
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The eleventh lord, Maeda Harunaga, undertook the reconstruction of the destroyed Renchi-tei. He first built a new waterfall called “Midori-taki” and a teahouse called “Yugao-tei” within the garden, and in 1776 (An’ei 5), he constructed the “Uchibashi-tei.” These facilities enhanced the beauty of the garden while serving as places for the lord and guests to rest and socialize. Under Harunaga’s reconstruction, the Renchi-tei was revived as an even more elegant garden than before.
4. 1822 (Bunsei 5): Naming of Kenrokuen and Completion of Takezawa Goten
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The twelfth lord, Maeda Narinaga, constructed a retirement residence called “Takezawa Goten” on the flat land called “Chitose-dai” above the Renchi-tei. That same year, Narinaga asked Matsudaira Sadanobu, a senior councilor of the Edo shogunate, to name the garden. Sadanobu bestowed the name “Kenrokuen,” derived from the Chinese classic “Record of Famous Gardens of Luoyang,” meaning that the garden possesses all six landscape qualities of spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, waterways, and panoramas.
5. 1874 (Meiji 7): Opening to the Public and Park Designation
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After the Meiji Restoration, Kenrokuen, which had been owned by the Maeda family, was fully opened to the public in 1874. This allowed many people to visit the garden, and facilities such as tea shops were established within the grounds. In 1922 (Taisho 11), it was designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty by the national government, and in 1985 (Showa 60), it was elevated to a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. Furthermore, in 2002 (Heisei 14), buildings such as “Shigure-tei” and “Fune no Mitei” were reconstructed, and improvements continue to this day.
Highlights of Kenrokuen
Kenrokuen is a beautiful garden known as one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, with many diverse highlights scattered throughout. Below, we introduce the key spots you should visit in detail.
■ Kasumigaike Pond
Kasumigaike (Misty Pond), located at the center of the garden, is Kenrokuen’s largest pond with an area of approximately 5,800 square meters. During the time of the thirteenth lord, Maeda Nariyasu, the pond was expanded to its current form. In the middle of the pond floats Horai-jima, an island symbolizing eternal youth, also known as Kikko-jima (Tortoiseshell Island) for its shape. Surrounding the pond are famous spots including the Kotoji-toro lantern, Niji-bashi bridge, Karasaki Pine, Sazae-yama hill, and Uchibashi-tei, allowing visitors to enjoy the scenery of each season.
■ Kotoji-toro Lantern
Standing beside Kasumigaike Pond, the Kotoji-toro lantern, with its distinctive two-legged form, is the symbolic presence of Kenrokuen. “Kotoji” refers to the bridge that supports a koto’s (Japanese harp) strings, and it was named for its resemblance to that shape. This lantern harmonizes with the pond scenery and is a popular spot where many tourists take commemorative photographs. At night, it is illuminated, creating a fantastical atmosphere.
■ Karasaki Pine
Standing beside Kasumigaike Pond, the Karasaki Pine is a magnificent pine tree said to have been grown from seeds brought from the shores of Lake Biwa by the thirteenth lord, Maeda Nariyasu. Its impressive branch spread is spectacular, and during winter, yukitsuri (snow-hanging) rope supports are applied to protect the branches from snow weight. This sight has become a beloved winter tradition of Kenrokuen.
Summary
Kenrokuen is a representative daimyo garden of Japan, built by the Maeda family of the Kaga domain, where history and beauty harmonize. The garden transforms with each season: plum blossoms and cherry blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, vivid autumn foliage, and in winter, trees adorned with yukitsuri create an atmospheric landscape.
Kenrokuen is not merely a tourist attraction but a place that gathers the essence of Kaga culture, offering healing and inspiration to all who visit. When you visit Kanazawa, be sure to explore this beautiful garden and enjoy its history and the changing seasons.