Kairakuen

I went during the summer (late June). It was very green and nice. But I arrived too late to buy any souvenirs of plums. However, there are many mosquitoes and the "natural spring" has a unsightly metal pipe in the middle which makes it seem unnatural and out of place. It is too bad that the train station is seasonal since the buses take a fair bit of time to come.

Beautiful! Lots of paths to walk around, in a nice area near a shrine, so a really pleasant place to go on a nice day. Probably the least impressive of the Three Famous Gardens in Japan but still well worth going to complete the list and to enjoy the garden in all seasons.

Beautiful and vast area. Worth a visit. Can imagine it would be very crowded during peak season

Kairakuen gardens are certainly special. I’ve read they are considered one of the three special gardens of Japan. Something special is that they are often empty, even close to Golden week during Sakura season when we viewed it. The old buildings with painted screens and thatch roofs are spectacular, and from the top floor, you look over the gardens and the lake.

Wonderful area to escape the frenetic pace of Tokyo. A great assortment of wide-open spaces, and small winding trails. Some elegant historical buildings and structures, and excellent views of the nearby lake. Convenient access along the provided paths, some of which are gravel. Even has a temporary train station located adjacent to the entrance, which is activated for special occasions.