The park's design is inspired by 19th-century French formal gardens to honor Léonce Verny's contribution to Japanese modernization.
Two original steam hammers, used at the Yokosuka Shipyard in the 1860s, are preserved on-site as designated industrial heritage assets.
The park provides one of the few public vantage points for viewing active United States Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force warships.
The rose garden is curated with specific varieties that bloom twice per year, corresponding with local rose festivals.
Léonce Verny’s bust is prominently displayed to commemorate his role in building the dry docks still in use today.
Verny Park is a French-style garden located along the Yokosuka waterfront, directly facing the U.S. Naval Base. The park is named after Léonce Verny, a French engineer who oversaw the construction of the Yokosuka Naval Shipyard during the Meiji era. It features approximately 2,000 rose bushes of roughly 90 different varieties, which reach peak bloom in spring and autumn. The site incorporates the Verny Commemorative Memorial Hall, which details the historical technical exchange between France and Japan. Walking paths provide views of the naval vessels docked in the harbor. The area includes an open-air cafe and several memorial monuments related to the shipyard's industrial history. It is positioned as an urban recreational space that blends horticultural displays with maritime industrial heritage.
The central fountain area with the rose gardens in the foreground and the naval shipyard cranes in the background.
Visit during the spring or autumn rose festivals to see the floral displays at their peak.
Bring binoculars if you are interested in identifying the specific naval vessels docked at the adjacent base.
Check the wind conditions, as the waterfront location can be significantly breezier than the city center.
Do not attempt to photograph restricted security zones or signage within the neighboring naval base.
The Verny Commemorative Memorial Hall is closed on Mondays, or the following day if Monday is a public holiday.
