Travel in Ibaraki
Kairakuen
Kairakuen · Kairakuen Garden · 偕楽園
Explore Kairakuen’s gardens among bamboo and tall cedars. Visit for a leisurely Mito walk; for plum blossoms, check flowering guidance for your date.
Sources and dates checked Main-garden fees and operation Entrances and transport
Visitor information at a glance
Admission
Ordinary main-garden admission costs JPY 320 for adults and JPY 160 for children. Adults are visitors aged 15 and over excluding compulsory-school pupils; child rates apply to compulsory-school pupils. Plum-festival admission costs JPY 500 for adults and JPY 250 for children. Visitors aged 70 and over pay the ordinary half-price rate of JPY 160; check festival rates separately. Separate free-entry conditions apply to Ibaraki residents and entry by 09:00. Kobuntei interiors cost extra.
Opening hours and closed days
The main garden opens from 06:00 to 19:00 from mid-February to 30 September, and from 07:00 to 18:00 from 1 October to mid-February. Areas outside it are always open. Kobuntei opens from 09:00 to 17:00 from mid-February to 30 September, with last entry at 16:45. From 1 October to mid-February, it opens from 09:00 to 16:30, with last entry at 16:15.
What can I see at Kairakuen?
Paths through bamboo and tall cedars
Walk at leisure along the main-garden paths among bamboo and tall cedars, then explore the gardens around Kobuntei.
How to get to Kairakuen
Walk from Mito’s north exit towards Kodokan stop 1. Take route 10’s Kairakuen-bound loop to Kobuntei Omotemon Iriguchi, then walk about five to eight minutes to the main garden’s Omotemon. Return from the same stop 1 to Mito north exit. This differs from East Gate/Kobuntei’s building entrance.
Main-garden fees and operation Entrances and transport Kodokan → Omotemon bus and fare Omotemon → Mito bus and fare
Before you visit
Plum festival and Kobuntei closures
Plum flowering varies by date. During the plum festival, main-garden hours may be adjusted to close at 17:00. Kobuntei closes on 29–31 December. To visit its interiors, check separate fees and last entry.
Walk from the bus stop to Omotemon
The walk from Kobuntei Omotemon Iriguchi to the main garden’s gate is about five to eight minutes. Despite the name, it is not directly outside the building entrance. It also differs from East Gate; check Omotemon’s position on the map.
Book admission to Kairakuen
Check the visit date, included areas and cancellation conditions on the booking page before choosing a ticket.
Book admission tickets on Trip.com →English booking page · USDJapanLiveNow may earn a commission if you book through this link.
Questions about Kairakuen
Does Kairakuen admission include Kobuntei interiors?
Kobuntei interiors require separate admission. The main-garden ticket covers the gardens; check the building’s admission fees and opening hours separately.
Sources and dates checked
- Sources and dates checked ·
- Main-garden fees and operation ·
- Entrances and transport ·
- Sources and dates checked ·
- Sources and dates checked ·
- Sources and dates checked ·
- Sources and dates checked ·
- Kodokan → Omotemon bus and fare ·
- Omotemon → Mito bus and fare ·
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