About Sankeien

Sankeien is a vast Japanese garden located in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and is an attractive tourist spot with its beautiful scenery and historical buildings. The garden was created by Tomitaro Hara (nee Sankei), a Yokohama businessman and tea master, and opened to the public in 1906. The garden covers a total area of approximately 17.5 hectares, and the rich natural environment and historical buildings relocated from various parts of Japan combine to create a landscape that reminds visitors of the beauty of traditional Japan.

Sankeien was designed as a “pond garden,” and visitors can enjoy the scenery as they walk around the pond. Walking through the garden, visitors can enjoy new and beautiful scenery as they change their viewpoints, and this change in scenery soothes the hearts of visitors. The garden is planted with seasonal plants such as cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, and Japanese apricots, and visitors can enjoy different expressions depending on the season they visit, such as a tunnel of cherry blossoms in spring and beautifully colored autumn leaves in fall. Water lilies floating in the pond and flowers blooming along the water's edge are also tasteful, creating a beautiful space where nature and architecture are in harmony.

One of the highlights of the garden is the three-story pagoda, tea house, and other ancient buildings scattered throughout the garden. These buildings were relocated from various parts of Japan, and the most eye-catching of them all is the three-story pagoda, which was relocated from the former Tofukuji Temple in Kyoto. The pagoda stands on a hill, and its beautiful appearance can be seen from anywhere in the garden. The tower is surrounded by a hill from which one can look out over the garden and enjoy the beauty of the architecture as well as the scenery. There are also tea rooms and shoin (drawing rooms) scattered throughout the garden, and one of the attractions of the garden is that visitors can stroll around while enjoying the characteristics and history of each building.

There is also a large lawn area in the garden for cherry blossom viewing and foliage viewing, where visitors can relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The reflections of buildings and trees in the pond and the sounds of nature in the clear air will make you forget the hustle and bustle of the city for a special moment. There is also a Japanese-style teahouse in the park, where you can enjoy the view of the garden while savoring matcha green tea and Japanese sweets, making it a great place to stop by between strolls to relax and enjoy traditional Japanese culture.

Sankeien holds various events each season, and events such as “Kangetsukai” and “Autumn Leaves Light-up” are especially popular. During the Kangetsukai, the garden is fantastically lit up at night, and visitors can enjoy the scenery of the garden illuminated by moonlight. The atmosphere of the garden differs from that of during the daytime, giving visitors the feeling of being in a different world. Also, during the fall foliage season, the illuminated maple leaves reflected on the surface of the pond are breathtakingly beautiful. These events offer a different experience from that of the regular garden, and each time you visit, you will discover something new and fascinating.

Furthermore, Sankeien is remarkable not only for the garden itself, but also for its historical value and cultural background. The garden, which is filled with Hara Tomitaro's aesthetic sense and love for Japanese culture, is not only a tourist attraction but also an important place to learn about traditional Japanese landscaping techniques and architectural culture. In particular, each building has its own history and characteristics, making the entire garden feel like a living museum. Explanation boards are placed around the buildings, so visitors can learn about the historical background and architectural highlights as they stroll around.

Sankeien Garden is a special place where you can spend a peaceful time in a space that combines nature and tradition, even though it is located in the city of Yokohama. Take a leisurely stroll through the spacious garden and enjoy the beautiful seasonal scenery and historical buildings for a relaxing moment away from everyday life.