Hakuryu-en Garden
This season's opening
Autumn opening (advance booking)
- Hours
- Entry at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 or 13:00 (50 people each). Stay about two hours; the 13:00 slot gets one hour. Irregular closures; closed in bad weather
- Admission
- Booked: ¥1,600 in Oct and Dec, ¥2,000 in Nov (tax incl.). Same-day: ¥2,000 / ¥2,500. Half price for primary-school children, free for younger. Cash on site
- Booking
- Booking requiredBook on the official site (until 17:00 the day before) or by return postcard (date, slot, up to four people). Cancellation costs 50% after booking and 100% from two days before
A normally closed mountain garden: mossy stone steps, a red arched bridge, five arbours with different views and the projecting Ryugin-tei pavilion, walked freely for about two hours (no guide)
Booked tickets are ¥400 cheaper in October and December than in November. No parking: take the Eizan Railway, or the bus from Kokusaikaikan Station to Ninose. No video, tripods or monopods, and some areas are no-photo
About the garden
A mountainside in the valley toward Kurama, acquired in 1962 by the founder of a Kyoto company, who then built its stone steps and arbours by hand with his staff, family and local helpers. It enshrines two deities, Shirahige and the Eight Dragon Kings, and takes one character from each for its name. You can visit only during booked openings in spring and autumn.
Where to stand
Start with the red arched bridge and the stone steps that lead on from it; the staff and the founder's family laid them bit by bit, and moss has grown over them since. There are five arbours, each placed for a different view, so stop at each and compare. Ryugin-tei, a tea-house-like pavilion at the start of the path to the Hakuryu shrine, sits on a timber frame built on a stone wall, with about a third of it projecting into the air; look up at it from below.
Practical notes
Hakuryu-en is privately owned and opens only in spring and autumn, by advance booking online (until 17:00 the day before) or by return postcard. Autumn 2026 runs Oct 10–Dec 6 with entry at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 or 13:00 (50 people per slot); pay cash on arrival, ¥1,600 in October and December or ¥2,000 in November. There is no parking and no guide, and video, tripods and monopods are not allowed.
Tea and food nearby
Small places within walking distance. Check their opening days against the garden's.
- 1 min walk🍡 SweetsKajikaso tea house (by Hakuryu-en)
A rest house across from Hakuryu-en, in an old building with an open hearth. After walking the mountain garden, warm up with zenzai or another sweet and a cup of tea.
Order：Zenzai (sweet red-bean soup) and tea
Generally follows Hakuryu-en's opening hours (garden's official site)Closed: Irregular; may be unavailable when the garden is booked for a private event (garden's official site)Under ¥1,000Details ↗ - 10 min walk☕ CafeCafe & Bar Ayahana
A café in a converted house in the quiet streets between Ninose and Ichihara. Places to eat are scarce in this valley, so it is the one to know for lunch after a morning slot at Hakuryu-en.
Order：Spiced curry
11:30–17:00 (evenings 17:00–21:00 by reservation)Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays (open on public holidays)¥1,000–2,000 at lunchDetails ↗