The Kokura Castle Gardens opened in 1998 on the site of the former residence and garden of an Edo Era feudal lord.
Even in December, the garden is beautiful. It is designed for all four seasons.
After removing your shoes, you can walk around on the wooden walkway and look into the rooms of the replicated fuedal lord’s home.
On my way home from Ofuna, I stopped in Mishima to visit the Sano Museum. The current exhibit is Akiko Ikeda’s 40th birthday of Dayan the Cat. Unfortunately for me, there was no English explanation and no photos were allowed. Admission for this exhibit is ¥1300, and the museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm.
From the museum website:
I like to visit the museum garden every time I’m in the area. The Ryusen-en Garden is a National Tangible Cultural Property. The garden is free to visit.
The cherry blossoms are gone, but the azaleas are gorgeous now.
