One of the most famous historical gardens in Japan, Ritsurin Garden in Kagawa Prefecture is home to sprawling verdant landscape, a tea house, folk art exhibitions, and even shops. Takamatsu City—where the garden is located—considers it one of the city’s main attractions. The various footpaths and bridges crossing the garden offer a variety of views and vistas all aimed at pleasing the eye and the spirit. To the west, guests can admire the scenery of Mount Shiun overlooking the garden. There are also many koi that can be fed with bread purchased from the Tea House.
Covering 750,000 square meters, Ritsurin Garden dates back to the 17th century. The construction of the garden, which began in 1625, took more than 100 years to complete and saw five different masters before reaching completion. In 1953, the garden was designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty in Japan.