A four-season retreat in the city🌿 A complete guide to Fukuoka Rakusuien Garden

#JapanGuide 🌱 Fukuoka Rakusuien Garden A 10-minute walk from JR Hakata Station, a secret garden hidden in the heart of Hakata **Rakusuien (楽水園)** is a space that was reborn as an urban garden in 1995 from a garden built by Hakata merchant Shimozawa Zenemon Chikamasa as a villa in 1906.  . The outer wall is made of traditional Hakatabei (博多塀) made by recycling tiles and stones from buildings destroyed in the 16th century war, adding a sense of history. . Although it is not large, it is a well-maintained circuit garden with a pond, waterfall, small bridge, and stone lantern, allowing you to experience all the basic elements of a Japanese garden (). Cherry blossoms in spring, irises in early summer, autumn leaves in fall, and a quiet atmosphere even in winter, making it attractive in all four seasons (). In the center of the garden, there is also a traditional water decoration called **Suikinkutsu (水琴窟)**, and the sound of the water drops gently echoes in hot summer or on rainy days, clearing your mind (). There are four tea houses in the garden, and general visitors can also make a reservation and enjoy a **matcha + seasonal tea set (approximately 300 yen)** at a **traditional tea house (茶室)**. The garden view from the tea house window allows you to experience a page of Japanese culture (). ⸻ 🕰️ Operation Information & Transportation • Admission Hours: 09:00–17:00 (Closed on Tuesdays and New Year's holidays, alternative operation on public holidays) () • Admission Fee: Adults 100 yen, children 50 yen, free for children 5 years old and under. Matcha set separate fee () • Parking lot: 12 compact cars, 300 yen/time  • Transportation: 12 minutes on foot from JR Hakata Station, get off at Nishitetsu Bus ‘TVQ Mae’ or ‘Eki-Mae 4-chome’, 2–7 minutes . ⸻ ✅ Recommended tips • **If you visit early in the morning (around 9:00)**, you can enjoy a quiet walk. • On rainy days or summer afternoons: Experience the charming scenery of the sound of water and fog! • Matcha set is highly recommended as a sentimental time to appreciate the garden! • Reservation at the tea house is recommended—Teaching tea with locals will be a precious memory. • Seasonal flowers and trees: Cherry blossoms → irises → autumn leaves change in order, and it is different no matter when you visit. • It is good to combine it with Hakata’s main tourist spots and Hakata Shrine, Canal City, Kushida Shrine, and Tochoji within a 1km radius to create a one-day course. ⸻ 📝 Emotional Impressions “As soon as I walked through the garden, the noise of the city disappeared, and the sound of the waterfall and the silence of the pond purified my mind. As I walked along the stone path between the green moss, I felt like I was one with nature, and the scenery of cherry blossoms and autumn leaves was simple but powerful. A sip of matcha and a plate of seasonal tea at the tea house was truly a ‘small luxury’ experience. There are few places that fit the expression ‘secret garden in the city’ as well as this place 😊”