One of the most elegant experiences at Ritsurin Garden is taking a Wasen boat ride around Nanko.

#JapanGuide ️🚣 Ritsurin Park Wasen Boat Conquest Guide 1. Boarding Fee & Operating Hours • Adult Fee: 620 yen, Children (Elementary and Middle School Students): 310 yen, Children under 3 years old cannot board • Operating Hours: 09:00-16:30, but November closes at ~16:00  2. Reservation Required vs. Same-Day Boarding • Advance reservation required, from 8:30 am on the 1st of the month before the date of use to 17:00 the day before, reservations can be made on the official website, by phone, or at the East Gate ticket office • If there are empty seats on the day, you can get a ticket right at the information desk when you enter, and you can choose a boarding time ticket 3. Boarding Location & Route • Purchase a ticket at the ticket office near the East Gate (or South Gate) and then move to the departure point • 6-person traditional Wasen boat with a guide, takes about 30 minutes • Go around South Lake, Enjoy the sights that can only be seen from the boat, such as Engetsu-kyo Bridge, Tennyōjima, and Kikugetsu-tei  4. Boarding Procedure 1. After entering the park, head to the East Gate Information Center to purchase a ticket 2. Select your desired boarding time and make a reservation or ticketing 3. Meet at the boarding point at the designated time, and depart on the lake with the guide 5. Highlights & Scenic Points • The reflection of Engetsu-kyo Bridge seen from the boat, like a scene from a sumi-e painting • The scenery around the lake is the best during the cherry blossom season in spring and the autumn foliage season in fall! • Guide explanations included to increase your understanding of the park's history, trees, and architecture   6. Tips & Tips • If you make a reservation during the quiet morning hours (9-10 AM), you can board in a quiet atmosphere • Free rental of traditional hats → Increase the emotion of your certified photo by 200%! • Light camera, be careful of smartphone water resistance, good for capturing wave reflections ⸻ “I received my ticket at Dongmun Information in the morning sunlight and got on a traditional wasen boat anchored next to the lake. Soon, the guide started rowing, and as I moved to the middle of the lake with the sound of waves crashing on the surface… the world suddenly became quiet and peace came. Thanks to the guide’s explanation, I was able to directly see the park’s famous spots, such as Engetsu Bridge, Kikugetsu-tei Tea House, and Tennyōjima Island, from the boat. The scenery viewed from the water felt a different depth than when I walked. Especially during the spring cherry blossom season, the petals falling on the gentle waves blended together, making me feel like I was the main character in a fairy tale. When I returned to land 30 minutes later, my heart calmed down but I was also filled with great emotion! It was truly the core experience of Ritsurin, where you can ‘take a break + cultural appreciation + emotional shots in one boat ride’ 😊”