点评:In early April 2026, I stopped by Ritsurin Garden as the first sightseeing destination of a two-night, three-day trip to Kagawa. After arriving at Takamatsu Airport from Haneda shortly after noon and picking up a rental car, I headed to this garden, located about 15 kilometers from the airport and not far from central Takamatsu.
Ritsurin Garden is a strolling daimyo garden that was developed over more than a century in the early Edo period. The garden is divided into the North Garden and the South Garden, but the South Garden is the one visitors should see first. It is the older section and contains the most outstanding scenery for which Ritsurin is famous.
There is a recommended walking course for the South Garden starting from the East Gate, and the route is clearly marked with signs, making it easy to follow. I would strongly recommend taking this course. Along the way is a teahouse called Kikugetsu-tei, which is well worth a stop for matcha and traditional Japanese sweets. After enjoying the tea, the view from the tatami room overlooking the pond is truly exceptional.
The suggested time for the South Garden course is about one hour, but to appreciate the garden properly, I think it deserves at least two hours.
Ritsurin Garden is not among the nine sites in Japan designated both a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and a Special Historic Site, yet as a Japanese garden I personally found it even more impressive than Koishikawa Korakuen, Kenrokuen, or Kairakuen.
翻译:2026年4月初,我开启了为期三天两夜的香川之旅,并将栗林庭园作为首站。当天中午刚过,我抵达羽田机场,取车后便前往这座距离机场约15公里、离高松市中心也不远的庭园。
栗林庭园是一座大名庭园,始建于江户时代初期,历经一个多世纪的修建而成。庭园分为北庭和南庭,但建议游客首先游览南庭。南庭历史更为悠久,拥有栗林庭园闻名遐迩的绝美景色。
南庭设有推荐的步行路线,从东门出发,沿途路标清晰,易于辨认。我强烈推荐这条路线。途中会经过一家名为菊月亭的茶室,非常值得驻足品尝抹茶和传统日式点心。品茗之后,从榻榻米房间俯瞰池塘的景色真是美不胜收。
南庭园的游览时间建议约为一小时,但我认为要真正领略这座庭园的魅力,至少需要两个小时。
栗林庭园并非日本九处同时被指定为“特别名胜”和“特别历史遗迹”的地点之一,但就我个人而言,作为一座日式庭园,它甚至比小石川后乐园、兼六园和偕乐园更令人印象深刻。