Nanrakuen Garden — Plum Blossoms and Iris

Published: Jun 3, 2026

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

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Nanrakuen Garden — Plum Blossoms and Iris

Nanrakuen Garden — Plum Blossoms and Iris 2

Nanrakuen is a traditional Japanese landscape garden built in 1688 for the lord of Matsuyama Domain, featuring seasonal blooms, ponds with koi and turtles, and classical garden architecture. The garden is particularly famous for 160 ume (plum) trees that bloom in February–March, followed by 30,000 iris flowers in May–June that transform the pond edges into purple and white fields.

The garden's design uses Mt. Katsuyama (Matsuyama Castle) as borrowed scenery visible beyond the garden wall.

Opening Hours

9:00–17:00 (until 16:30 December–February). Extended to 9:00–18:00 with night illumination during peak iris bloom (early June).

Closed: Open daily year-round. Occasional closure for garden maintenance — check Matsuyama City website.

Entrance Fee

¥310. Night illumination during peak iris season: ¥500. Tea ceremony in garden tea house: ¥500 (available on weekend mornings during plum season).

Best Season

Mid-February–early March for 160 plum trees. Early June (7–10 days) for 30,000 iris peak bloom with night illumination. Spring and autumn are most scenic overall.

Visit Duration

45–60 minutes for a standard garden stroll. Allow 90 minutes during peak bloom seasons to fully appreciate the plum trees or iris beds.

Getting There

Access Information

1 Nanrakuen, Matsuyama. 15-min walk from Matsuyama Station or bus to Nanrakuen-mae (¥160). Entry: ¥310. Hours: 9:00–17:00 (until 16:30 Dec-Feb). Peak bloom: plums Feb-Mar, iris early June.

Insider Guide

Premium

**Plum blossom season:** Nanrakuen's 160 plum trees bloom sequentially mid-February through early March, providing 3–4 weeks of viewing. The white and pink blossoms appear before cherry blossoms and a