Sankeien Garden Overview
Sankeien Garden was established in 1902 by Yokohama businessman Sankei Hara (1868–1939), on land passed down by his grandfather. His unique vision involved relocating historic buildings from Kyoto, Kamakura and other regions — including temples, tea houses and residences dating from the Edo period and earlier — carefully disassembled, transported and reconstructed within the garden landscape.
The vast classical Japanese garden covers over 175,000 square meters and contains many historical houses and buildings recognized as culturally significant, including a three-story pagoda originally constructed in Kyoto in the mid-1400s and relocated to the garden in 1914. Today, the garden contains 10 Important Cultural Properties and 3 Tangible Cultural Properties of Yokohama city, making it a repository of Japanese architectural history set within meticulously maintained landscapes.
The garden exemplifies the strolling pond garden (kaiyushiki teien) style, designed to reveal new vistas with each turn of the path. It is divided into an outer garden, open and pond-centered and an inner garden that was once the Hara family’s private residence. In 2007, Sankeien Garden was designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty.
Best Times To Visit Sankeien Garden
Sankeien attracts over 300,000 annual visitors seeking seasonal beauty — plum blossoms in February, cherry blossoms in spring, irises in June, lotus in summer, autumn foliage and winter snow scenes.
Spring is arguably the most popular season, when cherry trees burst into bloom around the central pond. During the cherry blossom season, the park opens until 9:00 pm (last entry 8:30 pm), with the trees illuminated at night and the three-story pagoda of the old Tomyoji Temple lit up as a special highlight.
In July and late August, the pond located near the entrance is covered in vibrant pink lotus blossoms, and early morning entry from 6:00 is offered on select dates so visitors can watch the flowers open and close. Autumn is equally breathtaking, with late November illumination events showcasing the changing foliage. Winter, while quieter, offers the rare beauty of snow-dusted historic structures.