Given its considerable size and many paths, Korakuen can be explored in many different ways. There is a short course designed for those who would like to walk around the garden in about 40 minutes. If you have a bit more time to spare, the long course will take you around Korakuen in 70 minutes. Given how close the garden is to Okayama Castle, there is also a “garden and castle course” which suggests a walking route with the most highlighted spots of about 80 minutes. We highly recommend making a stop by both places, not only due to their proximity, but also their shared history.
A discount ticket for the castle and the garden combined costs JPY720 for adults. Children can enter the garden, but not the castle, for free. Below, we have included some additional information such the location of the garden, its opening hours, and our tours making a stop by Korakuen. If you’re interested in the history of the garden and its construction, there are some details related to that as well.
-- Tours Visiting Korakuen Garden
WHERE IS KORAKUEN GARDEN?
Korakuen Garden is located in the city of Okayama, which is the capital of Okayama Prefecture. It lies to the Northeast of Okayama Castle and is surrounded on all sides by the Asahi River. The garden can be accessed through several bridges, one of which connects it directly to the castle grounds.
HISTORY OF THE GARDEN
The first lord of Okayama, Ukita Naoie, began his rule in 1573, but he was not the one responsible for building either Okayama Castle or Korakuen. The castle was actually built by his son Hideie, the second lord of Okayama, who unfortunately lost both the castle and the domain after losing a battle against enemy forces. Ownership of both was granted to Lord Kobayakawa Hideaki, who had betrayed Hideie and played a large role in his defeat. This made him the second official lord of the castle, but he would not hold this title for long, as he passed just two years into his rule. Having no heirs, the Kobayakawa clan was disbanded, and its territories were absorbed by the neighboring Ikeda Clan.
It was Ikeda Tsunamasa, the second lord of Okayama belonging to the Ikeda Clan, who was responsible for building Korakuen Garden. He was known for having profound knowledge of both the military and the arts. Aside from constructing the garden, he was responsible for other great deeds such as developing new arable lands and working on flood control projects. Since Okayama Castle had been built by the Asahi River, the castle town around it was frequently flooded, requiring this additional flood prevention work. It was actually through these projects that the land used for the garden became available, where previously it would have been too risky to build anything there.
Construction of Korakuen officially began in 1687, and at first it only comprised of a small building, a hill, and a field-covered area. It was a place intended for Lord Tsunamasa to relax from his duties. The garden was located so close the castle that it was originally known as “Gokõen” which translated to “rear garden.”
Throughout the next years, and under the rule of different lords from the Ikeda Clan, the garden continued to expand. At one point it evolved from being a garden meant to be admired from inside tea houses, into a Kaiyu, or “stroll” style garden. The garden we see today is most similar to its appearance in the mid-19th century, yet its concept as an open and vast place to enjoy nature has remained the same.
“Korakuen” became the official name of the garden in 1871, and ownership was transferred to Okayama Prefecture in 1884. It was this same year that the garden was opened to the general public. Another meaningful moment in the history of Korakuen was the establishing of a “scenic zone” to protect the landscape of the garden. In the past, the lords would have enjoyed an unobstructed view of one of Okayama’s mountains, Mount Misao, from inside the garden. In order to preserve this heritage, building regulations began to be enforced in the area between Korakuen and the mountain starting from 1940. This was the first garden-protection measure to be implemented in the history of the country. Sadly, the garden was severely damaged by a typhoon in 1934, and an air raid in 1945, but it has since then been faithfully restored into present-day Korakuen.
TOURS VISITING OKAYAMA KORAKUEN GARDEN
If you’d like to make a stop by Korakuen Garden but are also interested in visiting other popular sightseeing spots in the area, then we definitely recommend checking out our 1-day Okayama tour. Not only will you get to visit the garden and the neighboring Okayama Castle but also make a trip to the scenic Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. This latter place is a preserved historic townscape located not too far from the city of Okayama, and it is home to many old-fashioned buildings and structures which create a quaint and charming landscape. If you’re looking for a tour which is both highly culturally significant but also a bit more unique than other Japan tours, then this is the one for you!
