Koko-en

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About Koko-en

Koko-en is next to Himeji Castle on the west side, on the land where the samurai residences of the clan that ruled the city once stood. It was created in the early 1990s based on excavations that revealed the layouts of the old houses, and follows the street and wall patterns of the Edo period.

The garden consists of nine separate gardens divided by earthen walls and wooden gates, each in a different style: a large pond garden with a waterfall and carp, a pine garden, a bamboo garden, a seasonal flowers garden, a tea-house garden, a moss garden and others. Passing from one garden to another through the gates is part of the experience.

In the main garden is Choonsai, a restaurant overlooking the pond, and Sokeian, a tea house where you can drink green tea with sweets in simple ceremonies. The garden features stone bridges, lanterns and stepping-stone paths.

From Koko-en you can see the castle keep behind the trees in some spots. In autumn the maples change color, generally in November, and on some evenings the garden is specially illuminated. There is a combined ticket with the castle. Although newer than the castle, the garden was created by specialists in traditional gardens, using stones, trees and Edo-period techniques, and also serves as a setting for period films and local cultural events.