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Garden · Inuyama, Aichi
Urakuen Garden
Japanese garden at the foot of Inuyama Castle that houses the Joan tea house, a national treasure, built in 1618 in Kyoto by Oda Urakusai, the younger brother of Oda Nobunaga and a tea master.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
A look at the place
Urakuen Garden in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
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Discover
About Urakuen Garden
Urakuen is a garden of about 5,000 square meters east of Inuyama Castle, created to house the Joan tea house, one of three tea pavilions designated as national treasures in Japan. The house was built in 1618 by Oda Urakusai, younger brother of the warlord Oda Nobunaga and a master of the tea ceremony, in a temple in Kyoto. It was moved several times until arriving in Inuyama in 1972.
The Joan is small and simple on the outside, with a cypress bark roof. Inside it has details that became famous among tea masters: strips of old calendars pasted on the lower walls, a window with closely spaced bamboo slats and a diagonal board that alters the feel of the space. Most of the time the room is viewed from the outside; the interior opens only on special visit days.
The garden has stone paths, moss, bamboo, lanterns and other tea-related structures, such as the Kyu-Shodenin Shoin house, an Important Cultural Property. At Kotokuan, a newer tea house, visitors can have whisked green tea with a sweet, usually for an extra charge.
In autumn, the maples in the garden typically turn red between late November and early December, and in spring camellias and azaleas bloom. The entrance is beside a hotel on the banks of the Kiso River, a few minutes from the castle.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 30 minutes to 1 hour, including tea.
Best time
In autumn, for the maples, or in spring. Check the special opening dates for the Joan interior and the days when it is closed.
How to get there
About a 10-minute walk from Inuyama Castle or from Inuyama-yuen Station on the Meitetsu line.
Tip
Have tea at Kotokuan, with a garden view, after seeing the Joan up close.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Urakuen Garden
What is the Jo-an tea house?
A tea house from 1618, built by Oda Urakusai, brother of Oda Nobunaga. It is one of the three tea pavilions designated as a National Treasure in Japan.
Can you go inside the Jo-an tea house?
Generally it is only viewed from outside. The interior opens on special visiting days; check the dates in advance.
Can you have tea in the Urakuen garden?
Yes, at the Kotokuan tea house, with whisked green tea and a sweet, usually for an extra fee.
When do the maples turn red in Urakuen?
They usually color between late November and early December.
Beyond the guide
