Open 9am - 5pm; closed Mondays and 12/28-12/31 Holiday period
Admission:
Added to JGarden:
1/1/1998
Last Updated:
8/3/2002
Sources:
Patrick Ward, Cairo, George.
JGarden Description:
Located 10 minutes by bus from Shin-Shirakawa Station, Nanko Koen (Nanko 'south lake'; koen means 'park') is approximately 25 acres of lake, cherry trees, and red pine hills crowned by the superb Suirakuen Pavilion and Garden. The park was the first in Japan opened to the public. Prior to this, pleasure grounds had existed only for the nobility and samurai.
The Suirakuen Pavillion and Garden (admission charge) is a delight to stroll in, complete with waterfalls, rustic bridges, and "borrowed scenery" from neighboring mountains. Inside then pavilion itself, one may take in an abbreviated tea ceremony while admiring the reflections in the miniature lake.
A bit of water here,
There, between the trees -
The sea!