Kairakuen

Kairakuen is a public garden in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It is regarded as one of the country’s Three Great Gardens, alongside Kenrokuen in Kanazawa and Korakuen in Okayama. The garden was commissioned by Tokugawa Nariaki, the daimyo of the Mito Domain, in the early 1840s and opened to the public soon afterward. The name Kairakuen translates roughly as “garden of delights in plums,” reflecting its association with plum blossoms.

A defining feature of Kairakuen is its extensive plum groves, with thousands of trees representing hundreds of varieties. The plum blossoms draw visitors from late winter into early spring, making the garden a premier destination for plum-blossom viewing. In addition to the plum trees, the park includes open lawns, wooded areas, and ponds linked by walking paths that offer scenic views of the surrounding landscape.

Historically, Kairakuen has served as a public space for leisure and contemplation, preserving its function as a community resource since its creation. Today it remains a major cultural and tourist site, hosting seasonal events such as plum festivals and other activities that highlight traditional garden aesthetics and the region’s heritage.