Kairakuen Park, Ibaraki

Ibaraki Prefecture Mito’s “Kairakuen” is one of the three most famous Japanese gardens, along with “Kenrokuen” in Kanazawa and “Korakuen” in Okayama. It is also a tourist attraction of approximately 100 varieties and 3,000 plum blossoms blooming from February to March. Not only that, it is a spot where you can enjoy seasonal flowers so much that it is called a “flower park”.
It is about 20 minutes by bus from Mito Station on Japan Railway Joban Line. It was landed in 1842 by TOKUGAWA Nariaki who is the 9th generation Mito lord.
Kobuntei Omote Mon Gate, which corresponds to the main gate of Kairakuen, is also known as “Kuromon” because it uses a lot of pine wood and is black. It is a valuable structure that escapes the war disaster and tells you what it was originally constructed.
Among the attractions that are scattered throughout the Kairakuen area is Kobuntei, which was built as a separate residence in Tokugawa Nariaki. It is a great architecture designed by Nariaki himself. The name “Kobuntei” is said to be derived from “Kobunboku”, an alias of plum.
The present building was restored in 1958. Entrance fee is required, but you can also observe the inside, and you can enjoy the many inventive ideas that TOKUGAWA Nariaki has focused on.
In addition, the top floor (third floor) of Kobuntei is called “Rajujurou”, and the view from there is a superb view. Of course not only scenic scenery in the Kairakuen, but also Lake Senba outside the garden, and on a clear day you can have a wide view to Mt. Tsukuba. Kobuntei is a must-see point that you definitely want to keep in mind if you’ve been to Kairakuen.

The Group of Heritages of Modern Japan

“Kairakuen Park” counted with Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa, and Korakuen in Okayama by one of the three outstanding gardens in Japan. In 1842 of the Edo era, it was opened as a place of the rests of people by Mito feudal clan ninth charges feudal lord, Nariaki TOKUGAWA.
It registers with “Japan Heritage” which will keep Japanese culture and tradition as “The Group of Heritages of Modern Japan” in 2015.

The second place of the world next to Central Park of New York City

The area of the whole Kairakuen Park is broadness of total approximately 300 hectares. As a city park, it is proud of an area of the second place of the world next to Central Park of New York City. When you enter from the front gate, bamboo forest spreads, the Togyokusen pond that water springs out without the settlement when you go down there, and Kobun-tei (tea room) which Nariaki TOKUGAWA dealt with the design himself, it is full of the highlight.

Flowers decorate the garden throughout a year

The plum of approximately 100 kinds of 3,000 is planted in Kairakuen Park and is in full glory all around in the early spring. Started by “a plum festival” from end of February to the end of March, flowers decorate the garden with blooming cherry tree, azaleas, bush clover in autumn, and precocity cherry trees in early winter throughout a year.

Writers and artists, a vassal, and people in the territory were gathered here

Kobuntei located middle inside the garden consists of a wooden three stories of main part of it, and single-story wooden building of inner palace, and is said that Nariaki TOKUGAWA designed itself. It is said that writers and artists, a vassal, and people in the territory were gathered here, and enjoyed chanting a poem and an entertainment were held.
Although the entrance to Kairakuen Park is no charge, the entrance to Kobuntei requires a charge.

The world of “the negative and the positive”

It is said that Kairakuen is made being conscious of the view of the world of “the negative and the positive”.
The world of “the positive” that the sunlight pours, and the flower of the sweet-smelling plum is in full glory in the early spring, and the world of “the shade” that quiet stillness is comfortable like the world of the mysterious profundity.
It is also one of the charm only in Kairakuen Park to enjoy the contrast.

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