The garden's design was supervised by Kinsaku Nakane, a renowned expert known for restoring the garden of the Adachi Museum of Art.
The garden incorporates approximately 20,000 tons of natural stone imported from various regions of Japan to create its simulated mountain scenery.
The name 'Nanrakuen' translates to a 'garden of southern pleasure,' reflecting its location in the southern part of Ehime Prefecture.
During the peak iris season, the garden showcases over 200,000 iris flowers of various species.
The garden's layout is specifically engineered to frame the distant surrounding mountains as 'borrowed scenery' (shakkei).
Nanrakuen Garden is the largest Japanese-style garden on Shikoku island, spanning approximately 15 hectares. Designed by landscape architect Kinsaku Nakane, it features a sprawling pond-and-stroll layout typical of the Edo period. The garden is divided into two distinct sections: the upper mountain-style area and the lower pond-style garden connected by a central waterway. It utilizes natural spring water from the surrounding mountains to feed its large lake, which is home to hundreds of koi carp. The landscape is purposefully designed to highlight seasonal flora, including irises, azaleas, and plum blossoms. Traditional structures such as tea houses and stone bridges are strategically placed to offer curated perspectives of the scenery. It serves as a prime example of modern Japanese landscape architecture integrated into a historical aesthetic framework.
The vermilion-colored bridge that spans the main pond, providing a vibrant contrast against the water and surrounding greenery.
Walk the entire perimeter of the large central pond to see how the landscape perspective shifts as you move.
Visit the tea house within the grounds to experience traditional matcha service with a view of the koi pond.
Wear comfortable, flat walking shoes as the gravel paths cover a significant total distance.
Trying to see the entire garden in less than an hour, as the size makes it easy to rush and miss the detailed structural nuances.
Closed during the year-end and New Year holidays.
Do not feed the koi in the pond unless specified by marked signage. Keep to the designated gravel paths to protect the moss and garden beds.
