Kairakuen
Kairakuen, In Mito, Ibaraki, One Of The Three Great Gardens Of Japan (With Kenrokuen And Korakuen), Laid Out In 1842 For A Feudal Lord With About Three Thousand Plum Trees That Bloom In February And March. A Day Trip From Tokyo. · Mito, Ibaraki
Kairakuen is a large garden in Mito, Ibaraki, laid out in 1842 by Tokugawa Nariaki, the ninth lord of Mito domain, as a place where people could rest and enjoy themselves. It is counted as one of the three great gardens of Japan, alongside Kenrokuen in Kanazawa and Korakuen in Okayama. It is best known for about three thousand plum trees that bloom from mid February into March during the Mito Plum Festival, when the whole slope turns white and pink and the air smells sweet. Outside that season the garden is much quieter, with a bamboo grove, a cedar forest and the wooden Kobuntei pavilion. It suits day trippers from Tokyo, photographers and anyone who prefers plum to cherry blossom crowds. Allow two to three hours. It is worth the detour in the plum season. It is less compelling in summer, when the trees are green and the pavilion may be shut. Walk it slowly, sit on a bench and carry a warm coat in February.
1-1 Tokiwa-cho, Mito, Ibaraki, a short walk or bus from Kairakuen Station on the Joban Line from Tokyo (seasonal station), Mito, Ibaraki, Japan
The garden is open in daytime, with extended hours or evening openings during the plum festival - confirm dates. The grounds are free to enter, and a small fee covers the Kobuntei pavilion, which can be closed for repair or on set days - confirm. From Tokyo take the Joban Line to Mito, about 80 to 100 minutes, then a short bus or walk; during the plum festival a seasonal Kairakuen Station opens beside the garden for some trains. IC cards work on the train and bus, while cash is needed at small stalls and the pavilion. Nothing needs booking, but weekends in late February are crowded.