Kairaku-en
Kairaku-en is a Japanese garden located in Mito, Ibaraki, Japan. It is served by the Jōban Line via Kairakuen Station, which is only open during the plum blossom season. Along with Kenroku-en and Koraku-en, it is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Kairakuen was built relatively recently in the year 1841 by the local lord Tokugawa Nariaki. Unlike Japan's other two great gardens, Kairakuen was originally intended to serve for the enjoyment of the public. While worth a visit throughout the year, Kairakuen is most attractive during the plum blossom season, which usually takes place in late February and March. Besides the plum tree forest, where one hundred different plum tree varieties with white, pink and red blossoms are planted, Kairakuen also features a bamboo grove, cedar woods and the Kobuntei, a traditional Japanese style building. While entry to the garden is free, entry into the Kobuntei costs 200 yen. Sakura-yama, a small hill located on the other side of the park beyond JR Joban Line, is renowned for cherry blossoms in April.Photo gallery
