Keitakuen Garden: the beautiful Japanese garden of Osaka Tennoji Temple

From Abenobashi Terminal Building, to Tsutenkaku, to Tennoji Zoo, Tennoji is full of exciting tourist spots, and Keitakuen Garden is one of them. It is the perfect place to enjoy the nature scene in the city!

At Keitakuen, you can delve into the beauty of modern Japanese gardens.
Of course, there are many different types of Japanese gardens, so in this article, we will look into what kind Keitakuen is!

Oasis in the city: What is Keitakuen? 

Keitakuen was first designed by Ogawa Jihei 7th (a.k.a. Ueji), who is said to be the father of modern Japanese gardening. The combination of the three elements – lake, rock, and plants – creates a beautiful atmosphere.

Japanese gardens can roughly be categorized into 3 types, and Keitakuen is the type where visitors can take a circular stroll. You can enjoy a different scene with every angle and season.

Keitakuen is the pinnacle of the gardener’s passions. The more you know about the garden, the more it is enjoyable to stroll around.

Let’s see what you can experience:

Ocean Theme: This is what to look for at Keirakuen!

In Japanese gardening, the gardener usually has a theme for his or her garden.
This is why no two gardens are the same. Ueji, the gardener of Keitakuen developed the design under an “ocean” theme. Everything, from the lake to the stones and plants, somehow add to this overall theme.

Unique shaped rocks: find the hidden meanings!

Rocks of different shapes and sizes are placed around the lake in the center of the garden.
Some of the rocks include “Boat-shaped Rock” and “Dragon Head Rock”. All of them are natural boulders but have unique shapes that can be interpreted to be part of the ocean theme.

It is fun walking around the garden like a scavenger hunt. Try guessing which one is the “Dragon Head Rock”.

＜Feel the change seasons in a garden full of plants＞

Keitakuen Garden is home to nearly 200 types of trees. From the cherry blossoms in the spring, to the falling leaves in autumn, every season comes with its own beauty.
Being able to fully experience all four seasons is one of the best things about staying in Japan! Delve into nature while taking a stroll around the park.

≪Upside-down Abenobashi Terminal Building!≫

This is one of the best spots in the whole garden:

From this angle, you can see Abenobashi Terminal Building, giving you the best of both worlds: nature and civilization.

If you look into the lake, you can even see the building upsidedown!

It is sure to be a great addition to your camera roll.

Located near Tennoji station and Tonnoji Zoo, Keitakuen Garden is a magnificent place to visit!
Those with transit passes can enter the garden for free, so it is definitely a highly recommended spot.

Related post:

A must-have for sightseeing in Osaka! Amazing Pass

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