The garden's name translates to 'Garden of Valley Stones' due to the massive volume of local volcanic rock incorporated into its design.
The garden layout purposefully channels water from the nearby Yabakei Dam reservoir to flow through the park's man-made streams.
It features a symbolic 'miniature' representation of the Yabakei Valley's famous craggy peaks and gorges.
The garden was specifically engineered to be 'barrier-free' to allow wheelchair access across most of its paths despite the hilly terrain.
Keisekien is a 2-hectare Japanese-style garden situated on the banks of the Yabakei Dam reservoir in Nakatsu, Oita. Constructed using over 31,000 tons of local stone, the park was designed to highlight the intersection of nature and water management. It features a sprawling complex of ponds, streams, and bridges that integrate the dam's reservoir into a traditional aesthetic landscape. The garden is divided into distinct zones that mimic the terrain of the surrounding Yabakei Valley. Visitors can walk through manicured hillsides and tiered water features designed to reflect the seasons. The garden is maintained by the Nakatsu City government as part of the broader Yabakei Dam tourist area.
The central arched bridge looking back toward the tiered stone waterfall with the reservoir in the background.
Bring comfortable walking shoes to navigate the stone paths and incline transitions between the ponds.
Visit during the early morning to catch the mist rising off the dam reservoir for better photography conditions.
Explore the perimeter trails that lead away from the main garden to view the dam's spillway structure.
Avoid walking on the stone embankments or entering the water features, as surfaces can be slippery and hazardous.
Open year-round; no specific closure days observed.
Stay on marked stone pathways to protect the delicate moss and garden plantings.
