Kairakuen
偕楽園
One of Japan's Three Great Gardens spanning 300 hectares, built in 1842 and renowned for its plum trees and cherry blossoms that bloom seasonally.
Kairakuen is a Japanese style garden that is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Spanning 300 hectares, the garden was built in 1842 by Tokugawa Nariaki, the ninth daimyō of Mito Domain. The garden was intended for the enjoyment of the samurai class, but was open to commoners on certain dates each year.
Kairakuen is particularly known for its cherry blossom season which takes place in late February and March. The garden also features one hundred different varieties of plum trees, bamboo trees, and cedar trees. The three-story pavilion, Kobuntei, serves as a stage for poetry contests and Japanese tea ceremony. In 1922, the garden was designated a National Historic Site and National Place of Scenic Beauty.
