[Himeji City] A hot topic on a global level! “Himeji Castle West Residence Ruins Garden Kokoen”

• Table of Contents
• The number of people who want to go to Kokoen Garden is rapidly increasing! Highly rated tourist spots from overseas
• A Japanese garden with Himeji Castle in the background
• Protecting the beauty of Kokoen Garden
• Recommended for lunch and cafe
• How to access Kokoen Garden
• Useful information
• basic information

The number of people who want to go to Kokoen Garden is rapidly increasing! Highly rated tourist spots from overseas

``Himeji Castle West Residence Garden Kokoen'' (hereinafter referred to as Kokoen) is adjacent to Himeji Castle, a world cultural heritage site and national treasure. Nine gardens with different tastes are arranged on the vast grounds to entertain visitors.

The garden has its charm in every season, but autumn is the most popular. It's autumn leaves season. In particular, it has become a popular spot visited by many people since it was ranked number one in Japan in the 2022 Jalan Most Spectacular Autumn Foliage Ranking.

Photo provided by: “Himeji Castle West Mansion Ruins Garden Kokoen”

The age range of visitors is also widening. The reason for this may be the large number of photo spots within the park.

Although it is called a photography spot, it is not a man-made object designed for photography. The garden itself is a highlight, as it is maintained daily to soothe the hearts of those who see it and give them peace of mind. Each of them takes pictures of the scenery they feel is beautiful.

There are elderly couples, families with small children, high school students in uniforms, and many other people who come not only as a stopover while sightseeing at Himeji Castle, but also for the purpose of visiting Kokoen Garden. Since the end of the coronavirus pandemic, we have begun to see many foreign visitors visiting Japan. Visitors visit the park regardless of the season.

Before the coronavirus outbreak, Kokoen had over 400,000 visitors a year (520,000 in 2016, after Himeji Castle's ``Heisei conservation and restoration''), and 2023 is likely to reach an all-time high. Approximately 40% of these foreign visitors visiting Japan, and the number of individual travelers from Europe and America is particularly increasing.

A Japanese garden with Himeji Castle in the background

Kokoen Garden, located to the west across the inner moat of Himeji Castle, made use of the remains found during excavations and the site of the Nishi-omiyashiki ruins, samurai residences, and passageways that are believed to have been the lower residences of the Himeji feudal lord. , nine gardens with different tastes show off the expressions of each season.

The park opened in 1992 (Heisei 4). It was built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Himeji City's establishment as a city, and as of October 2023, nearly 8 million people have visited the park.

The park is designed with Tsukiji walls and mansion gates, all electric cables are underground, and buildings and roads are not visible, making you feel like you have traveled back in time to the Edo period.

As you move towards the back, you can no longer hear the sound of cars running, and the sound of birds chirping and the murmuring of the river are soothing, and it's a place where you can forget about everyday life. You'll definitely understand why it's used as a filming location for movies and dramas.

I would like to introduce the highlights, but there is not enough space, so I will briefly introduce them by season.

A plum blossom exhibition is held in February, announcing the arrival of spring in Himeji. During the cherry blossom season, night cherry blossom parties and light-up events are held along with Himeji Castle.

Photo provided by: “Himeji Castle West Mansion Ruins Garden Kokoen”

Photo provided by: “Himeji Castle West Mansion Ruins Garden Kokoen”

In May, around Golden Week, wisteria flowers are at their peak in Natsuki no Niwa, one of the nine gardens. Although the scale is small, the wisteria trellis in full bloom is a sight to behold.

Photo provided by: “Himeji Castle West Mansion Ruins Garden Kokoen”

From the time of fresh green to summer, the beauty of the lush maple leaves and the cool bamboo forest where you can see several types of bamboo in the ``Bamboo Garden''.

Autumn marks the arrival of moon viewing parties. The pampas grass next to the built-in wall creates an autumnal atmosphere. As the leaves turn autumn, Kokoen Garden, including the ``Garden of the Mansion'' and ``Garden of the Tsukiyama Pond,'' becomes the most vibrant and colorful.

Photo provided by: “Himeji Castle West Mansion Ruins Garden Kokoen”

In winter, deciduous trees shed their leaves, revealing the beauty of their branches and shapes. Some people even prefer this period because it looks like an ink painting.

Photo provided by: “Himeji Castle West Mansion Ruins Garden Kokoen”

Events are held every season, such as the illumination of autumn leaves, so don't forget to check the official website before going out.

Protecting the beauty of Kokoen Garden

The reason why Kokoen Garden has become famous nationwide as one of the best spots for autumn leaves in Kansai is because there are people who work closely with the trees in Kokoen Garden and watch over it to make it a beautiful garden. The garden is supported by around 10 people at any given time, including those who prune, manage equipment and clean, as well as many other people, including landscapers.

Among them, the person who has played a central role over the past 10 years is Deputy Director Keinobu Ishiyama. He is also a first-class landscaping construction management engineer, a first-class landscaping technician, and an arborist. What I keep in mind is to "always maintain the same form."

Trees grow at different speeds depending on the type, and each tree has its own unique characteristics. In order to keep it in the same shape, we read the weather, look at the amount of light, and decide which branches to prune and which to leave. He also says that the difficulty of maintaining a garden is to proceed with pruning in such a way that you don't know that you've pruned it.

Photo provided by: “Himeji Castle West Mansion Ruins Garden Kokoen”

We also asked about points to consider when viewing the autumn leaves. ``If people see it and think it's beautiful, that's the best thing.Furthermore, when you notice that there are various trees in the scenery, and even a single tree has different leaf colors depending on the location, creating a gradation, it becomes more flavorful.'' "It might become something."

Because there are people watching over and supporting them, the trees at Kokoen are healthy and make the viewers feel good.

Recommended for lunch and cafe

One of the reasons why Kokoen has attracted so much attention is probably due to the presence of the restaurant ``Kassuiken,'' where you can eat while looking out at the Japanese garden. At Kassuiken, which is adjacent to the mansion garden with its large pond, you can enjoy dishes made with conger eel and Yume Soba.

We have a wide selection of Harima's local sake, and we also have sake tasting sets.

Hime Gozen (2,680 yen) Limited quantity Photo provided by: “Himeji Castle West Residence Ruins Garden Kokoen”

In addition to the lunch menu, they also have coffee, tea, matcha sets, pancake sets, zenzai, and more.

Even on rainy days, you can spend a relaxing moment gazing absentmindedly at the garden.

Zenzai (600 yen)

There may be a waiting time during lunchtime. We recommend that you wait a little while before using the service. Reservations must be made at least 3 days in advance. Reservations may not be accepted during the tourist season or when events are held.

Restaurant "Katsuuiken" Business hours: 10:00 - 16:00 (hours may be extended depending on the season) Reservations and inquiries: 079-289-4131

For more information, see Kokoen official website

The Tea Garden includes an authentic Sukiya-style tea room called Sojuan. There is also a ryutei-style room with chairs available, making it a tea room that can be used casually.

Tea room "Soujuan" Business hours: 12:00 - 16:00 (last reception 15:40) Price: 500 yen per seat (includes sweets) Closed: December 21st - January 5th Contact: 079-289-4121 for details Please refer to Kokoen official website.

How to access Kokoen Garden

Kokoen is about a 15-minute walk from JR Himeji Station or Sanyo Electric Railway Himeji Station.

If you are taking a bus, take the Shinki Bus from the north exit of Himeji Station and get off at Himeji Castle Otemon-mae, which is about a 5-minute walk.

If you want to enjoy the area around Himeji Castle, we recommend the Himeji Castle Loop Bus. It takes about 15 minutes to go around Himeji Castle from the north exit of Himeji Station to Kokoen-mae. It is 100 yen per time.

If you are driving, there is no parking lot at Kokoen Garden, so please use a nearby paid parking lot.

For those who want to enjoy Kokoen as well as Himeji Castle, we recommend a common admission ticket. Kokoen (310 yen) and Himeji Castle (1,000 yen), a common admission ticket costs 1,050 yen.

(Writer Takashi Tsukamoto)

*This article is information as of September 2023. Prices include tax. Product contents and prices may change.

Useful information

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basic information

“Himeji Castle West Residence Ruins Garden Kokoen”

Address: 68 Honmachi, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture

Phone number: 079-289-4120

Admission fee: 310 yen for ages 18 and over, 150 yen for elementary, junior high, and high school students, free for pre-elementary school students

Business hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (Entry until 16:30, hours may be extended depending on the season)

Closed: December 29th and 30th

Access: From Himeji Station on the JR or Sanyo Railway, take the Shinki Bus and get off at “Himeji Castle Otemon-mae” and walk for about 5 minutes, or take the Himeji Castle Loop Bus and get off at “Kokoen-mae” for about 15 minutes.

Parking: None (use nearby paid parking lots)

HP: https://www.himeji-machishin.jp/ryokka/kokoen/

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