5 Gardens in Wakayama worth your time
Japan Gems
Wakayama Prefecture offers a variety of gardens, from the historic design of Wakayama Castle Nishinomaru Garden to the serene Bandoko Garden. Visitors can find diverse landscapes suitable for a peaceful outing.
Wakayama has 5 gardens on Japan Gems. Below are the 5 we can tell you the most about — each one written up in English from Japanese sources, with what to see and how to get there. See all gardens in Wakayama.
01
Wakayama Castle Nishinomaru Garden
WAKAYAMA · GARDEN 和歌山城西之丸庭園
A historic Edo-period garden within Wakayama Castle, featuring ponds, a waterfall, and a teahouse.
What it is
- A Japanese garden inside Wakayama Castle.
- Also known as Momijidani Garden.
- Built by Tokugawa Yorinobu in the early Edo period.
- Designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty.
What to see
- A pond-stroll garden with two levels of ponds.
- A waterfall and part of the inner moat.
- The Engyokaku pavilion by the inner moat.
- The restored Ohashi Roka bridge.
- Koshōan teahouse, built on original remains.
- Official site
- wakayamajo.jp
02
Rokusan-en
WAKAYAMA · GARDEN 六三園
Rokusan-en is a historic villa with a Japanese garden and Western elements, offering a glimpse into early 20th-century architecture.
What it is
- Former Matsui Family Villa, built for Isuke Matsui.
- Construction began in 1920, completed by late Taisho era.
- Ten buildings are national tangible cultural properties.
- Operated by Ganko Food Service since 2005.
What to see
- Main building consists of three structures.
- Japanese-style garden to the south.
- Brick water tower shows Western influence.
- Site area is approximately 6600 square meters.
- Official site
- www.gankofood.co.jp
03
Bandoko Garden
WAKAYAMA · GARDEN 番所庭園
Bandoko Garden offers panoramic ocean views from a historic watch station site.
What it is
- A lawn garden on the cape Bandoko-no-hana.
- Built on the former site of a watch station.
- The watch station served the Kishu Domain.
What to see
- Views of Oshima, Nakanojima, and Futagojima islands.
- A scenic spot known for sunsets.
When to go
- Open daily, except during rain.
- Open 8:00 to 17:00.
- From April to August, open 9:00 to 18:00.
- Official site
- www.banndoko.com
04
Onzansō-en
WAKAYAMA · GARDEN 温山荘園
Onzanso-en is Japan's largest private garden, a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty.
What it is
- A Japanese garden in Kainan City, Wakayama Prefecture.
- A nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty.
- Built as a villa garden for Nitta Chojiro.
- The largest private garden in Japan.
What to see
- A tidal-flow pond-stroll garden.
- The main house, Onzanso, built in 1915.
- The tea house Kyoka-an, built in 1920.
- The Hamazashiki, built in 1913.
- Official site
- www.onzanso.or.jp
05
Yōsui-en
WAKAYAMA · GARDEN 養翠園
Yōsui-en is a rare, privately owned daimyo garden with a unique seawater pond.
What it is
- A Japanese chisen kaiyushiki (pond-stroll) garden.
- Built from 1818 to 1826 by Tokugawa Harutomi.
- Named by Sanjo Kin'osa.
- Japan's only privately owned daimyo garden.
What to see
- A 33,000 square meter garden.
- A shioiri pond with drawn-in seawater.
- A unique straight-line Mitsuhashi bridge.
- Garden composition mimicking China's West Lake.
- Official site
- www2.odn.ne.jp