Sankeien

Sankeien (三渓園) is a sprawling, 175,000-square-meter traditional Japanese garden that serves as an open-air museum for the nation’s architectural heritage. Designed and landscaped by Hara Sankei, a prominent silk merchant, the project began in 1902 and took twenty years to reach completion. Rather than simply recreating a landscape, Hara utilized his wealth to relocate seventeen historic structures from across Japan—primarily Kyoto and Kamakura—to this coastal corner of Yokohama. These buildings, which include an elegant three-story pagoda, historic tea houses, and grand feudal residences, are strategically placed to harmonize with the garden’s ponds, bridges, and winding trails.

A Living Museum of Heritage and Seasonality

The garden is divided into two distinct sections: the Outer Garden and the Inner Garden. From 1906, the Outer Garden was opened to the public as a space for community enjoyment, while the Inner Garden was reserved as Hara’s private estate. Today, both areas are accessible, allowing visitors to explore the intricate details of the relocated monuments, ten of which are designated as Important Cultural Properties. Highlights include the Old Yanohara House, a massive gassho-zukuri farmhouse originally from Shirakawa-go, where a traditional hearth (irori) is kept burning throughout the year to preserve the thatched roof and keep insects at bay.

An “irori” (traditional hearth used to keep the house warm). It would have been burning 365 days a year (in summer to keep the mosquitoes at bay)

The staff will prepare matcha in the traditional way (¥500)

Complementing the historic architecture is the Sankei Memorial Museum, which provides insight into the founder’s life, his art collection, and the philosophy behind the garden’s creation. Sankeien is a dynamic landscape throughout the year; it is a premier destination for cherry blossom viewing in the spring, while the lotus ponds bloom in early summer, and the maples turn a vivid scarlet in the autumn. Traditional tea houses dotted around the grounds offer visitors a chance to pause for matcha and local sweets, completing an experience that feels remarkably distant from the industrial skyscrapers of the nearby port.

Visitor Information
Address	58-1 Honmokusannotani, Naka-ku, Yokohama, 231-0824 (Google Maps)
Opening Hours	9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Last entry 4:30 PM)
Price	Adults: ¥900 / Elementary & Middle School Students: ¥200
Website	Visit Website

Access Information
Station	Line / Transport	Access Details
Negishi Station	JR Negishi Line	Take bus No. 58, 99, or 101 to “Sankeien-mae” (approx. 10 mins), then a 5-minute walk.
Yokohama Station	JR / Keikyu / Tokyu	Take bus No. 8 or 148 (East Exit Bus Shield) to “Sankeien-iriguchi” (approx. 35 mins).
Sakuragicho Station	JR / Blue Line	Take the “Burari Sankeien Bus” directly to the garden (weekends/holidays only).