Ritsurin Garden

Designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese government, Ritsurin Garden is the largest cultural garden in Japan. Originally built as a private villa for the Matsudaira family, feudal lords of Takamatsu, the garden was completed nearly 300 years ago after several generations of renovations. With six ponds and thirteen artificial hills, it features an exquisite design characteristic of early Edo-period strolling gardens. The layout of the garden, the arrangement of stones, and the harmony of trees and rocks provide a refined aesthetic. The beauty of the garden changes with the seasons, and the flowers that bloom next to the carefully pruned pines create picturesque scenes.

Takamatsu is considered a sacred place for bonsai enthusiasts, especially the areas of "Onishi" and "Kokubunji". Onishi, in particular, is known as the world's center of pine bonsai cultivation, accounting for 80% of Japan's production. Revered by bonsai lovers, Onishi is considered a must-see destination. Tour guide Mr. Nakanishi of Chinsyū-En offers a comprehensive tour of the local bonsai culture.