Sankeien Garden

A unique experience in Yokohama, away from the crowds. It's just a 30 minute ride by bus from Yokohama station and costs 220 each way. Entrance fee to the grounds is 900 yen, which can seem a bit high, but they don't charge extra for all the buildings and expositions on-site. You can easily spend multiple hours exploring every inch of this place. They have a large collection of flora which blooms at different times of the year. Currently, the lotus flowers are in bloom. The big, bright pink flowers are breathtaking, especially with the pagoda in the back, it's such a unique view. It wasn't busy at all when I was here. It was so peaceful. There are also a few food and tea stalls where you can take a little break. And enough benches throughout the area to take small breaks. Definitely worth visiting.

Sankeien Garden in Yokohama is one of those places that feels like it belongs in a different time peaceful, spacious, and full of quiet stories. The moment you walk in, it’s like the city fades away. You’re surrounded by traditional wooden buildings, koi ponds, stone lanterns, and wide-open walking paths that invite you to slow down. What makes Sankeien special isn’t just the scenery it’s the history woven into it. Many of the buildings here were brought from Kyoto and other parts of Japan, some over 500 years old. The three-storied pagoda perched on the hill is especially striking, like something out of a woodblock print. It feels almost surreal seeing it reflected in the still water below. Every season has its moment here. In spring, cherry blossoms frame the garden in pink; summer brings lush green and lotus flowers; autumn turns the trees a deep, fiery red; and even in winter, the garden has a quiet charm with camellias and snow-dusted rooftops. You’ll find families with kids, elderly couples, and artists with sketchpads all soaking in the calm. There’s also a small teahouse and a museum area that adds to the atmosphere. It's not flashy or crowded like some tourist spots, but that’s the beauty of it. Sankeien feels personal, like a well-kept secret you’ll want to revisit whenever life gets too loud.

Sankeien Garden was a stunning blend of nature and history. Walking through it felt like stepping into a different era. The scenes of traditional Japanese architecture, serene ponds, and beautifully manicured landscapes. Every angle offered a picture-perfect moment. We were lucky to be visiting when cherry blossoms were in full bloom. The garden transformed into a pink-and-white paradise. It's magical. Sankeien Garden was a must-visit. Highly recommend.

Absolutely amazing garden! When initially walking in, you’ll see the biggest Lotus’s you’ve ever seen in your life followed by a huge beautiful pond with large fish, birds and an assortment of turtles. Many buildings were brought to this garden and there is a lot to learn here. It was very hot end of July. I’d recommend a portable fan or umbrella. Price was ¥900/person for adults.

This garden is about 30 minutes from the harbor area. We walked to the local metro station (Sakuragicho) and took bus number 8. It was 220 yen pp and you have about a 5-10 minute walk when you exit the bus. The gardens are very peaceful and tranquil. Many(mostly ) locals frequent the gardens and only a few tourists. The entry price was 900 yen and we broke a 10,000 yen, which isn’t easy to do in Japan. There were people getting engaged and locals having a great time. There are plenty of clean restrooms and several tea houses there. I highly recommend it for a relaxing few hours.

The garden is a real hidden treasure. Very few people are there on a weekday and it is beautiful in every detail. It is full of wonderful old buildings and houses of historical importance. It is a real journey back in time to the 16th century.

If you are looking for a traditional Japanese garden, this is not it. That being said, this is still a really nice place to visit. There are many old buildings on the grounds and it's very peaceful overall. I came in the afternoon and there were very few people around. I enjoyed it, but I would probably look for something more traditional next time I visit.

A lovely place to relax and enjoy the calm energy from the garden. I love the seasonal flowers and activities offered. This time, I went early to view the pink lotus. It was breathtaking!

I can't believe I've never gotten around to reviewing this garden, which I've been in love with for years. It's got a classic Japanese garden vibe though it's basically an early 20th century creation as an estate of a wealthy family. It does have a collection of much older buildings that were brought in by that wealthy family. And in terms of plants, there's alway something to look at no matter what time of year. It's also great to visit if you're in Yokohama and don't have time to go to Kyoto etc. it's main downfall is it's not very close to a train station. But it can be reached by a long walk from a station, a bus, or even a taxi. Enjoy.

Our tour group was bussed from Tokyo to embark on Oceania Cruise Line's Riviera ship at Yokohama. Luckily, checking onto the cruise ship wasn't scheduled until 2:30 PM, so we managed to visit the Sankeien Garden, tour Yokohama's famous Chinatown, eat a hearty Japanese-Chinese lunch at Jukei Sarou, and visit Minato Mirai 21 (seaside urban area with many attractions, grand shopping center, hotels, convention center, amusement park, and hot spring baths) before transferring to the Yokohama Pier in Tokyo Bay. The Sankeien Garden was created on the property of a successful Yokohama businessman (Sankei, born Tomitaro Hara) who had built a fortune from trading silk and raw silk. After Sankei's grandfather-in-law's death (Zenzaburo Hara), Sankei started constructing the Sankeien Garden and the family's residence. The garden is divided between inner (private) and outer (public) regions. Unfortunately, because the private inner garden structure is designed with historic buildings built at the beginning of the Edo Period (early 1600s) and the Hara family's residence is located there, the public is still not allowed to enjoy the graceful structures. We could only stroll through the public outer garden, and we only had allocated time (90 minutes) to do so. Still, we enjoyed the public garden with its landmark Three-Story Pagoda, which was built about 550 years ago during the Muromachi period and moved from the Tomyoji Temple of Kyoto and the former historic gassho-style Yanohara Family residence built during the Edo period. We were surprised to discover the Yanohara Family residence was designed for farmers yet features high-class architectural elements. The Yanohara Family's residence showed the family's affluence despite being farmers. We were lucky to see different flowers, such as the Japanese plum, cherry blossoms, and irises in bloom. Only the lotuses weren't in season. It was known that Sankei interacted with artists, academia, and literary figures at Sankeien, which served as a place where modern Japanese culture was developed. The Garden was designated as a Place of Scenic Beauty by Japan in 2007, and the entire garden has been named as a cultural asset. If you're visiting Japan and in the Yokohama area, I'd highly recommend this Garden.

There are not enough words to describe the beauty of this wonderful garden located in southern Yokohama. I'd be lying if I said I didn't tear up a bit. Got some cherry blossom petals in my eyes, no big deal ;_; The three-storied pagoda on top of the hill was a great view up close, while the endless cherry blossom trees scattered around the central pond warmed my heart despite the chilly afternoon. I felt so privileged to bask in Sankeien Garden's beauty that no other US-based Japanese garden could ever compare. Fun fact, some of the historical houses were transported here from different places in Japan! I'm actually surprised this isn't a UNESCO World Heritage site, but I'm glad it's not overrun by tourists! For an entrance fee of only ¥500, I would come back to this garden again and again. This place was mostly filled with locals, and I loved how peaceful and serene the atmosphere was while I sat on the bench admiring the sight. This was one of the highlights of my recent trip to Japan and I encourage anyone and everyone to experience it :)

Going to Sankein Garden @Yokohama from Tokyo took us more than 45mins (by train and bus) but everything is accessible and on point in Japan thus every bit of travel time is so worth it. The garden is huge and it will take you at least an hour or more to explore and enjoy it. The view is spectacular, personally I love the main pond and Pagoda area. There is a cafe in the garden, the cost is just and the food is tasty. I love the dango with anko-- freshly made, chewy, soft and grilled with just the right amount of anko sweetness :) Btw, there is an admission fee of ¥500 (per adult).

We spent the morning here, looking at the old buildings. They had both dwellings and decommissioned temples, mostly made of wood and straw. We went all around the pond, and didn't notice we had only looked at the outer garden (left side on the map by the main entrance). In that section, it didn't feel like a manufactured "Japanese Garden", no bonsai-looking trees or raked sand. Just natural foliage among a collection of buildings. It felt more like VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver (http://www.yelp.co.jp/biz/vandusen-botanical-garden-vancouver) as opposed to the touristy Butchart Gardens (http://www.yelp.co.jp/biz/the-butchart-gardens-brentwood-bay). It seemed like a nice place for locals to get an annual pass and come walk or read. They had some bench clusters shaded by fuji (wisteria). Pretty! Other reviewers mention a Japanese Garden, so that must be in the main area. There was a historical-looking building that is a rentable venue! We were four adults. They had a 5-ticket package for the same price, so I have one left over that I can use next time. I don't see any expiration date on it. At the little shop past the pond, I got a "mitarashi dango"! It was fresh and warm. I had forgotten that's how they're supposed to be (supermarket versions are cold).

A bit of a journey from Tokyo, but worth the effort. We went there on an unusually warm January day, and managed to catch an Edo-period magic show happening. There are otten events happening year-round, so it's worth it to check their website to see if there is anything special going on when you can make it out there. You can easily spend an afternoon there enjoying the scenery, the tranquility and the beautiful buildings. There is even an observation post where you can get an excellent view of Mt. Fuji (on a clear day). There will be some factories in the foreground, but that's not the fault of the park. Neither is the fact that it's a bit of a hike from the nearest bus stop or train station. It's not a bad walk, though.

Beautiful park that is well kept and clean. So many cool buildings and trails to explore on. Also, we got some soba at a tea house and it was very good. Definitely go if you visit Japan!