Urakuen Garden 有楽苑

Urakuen Garden sits at the foot of Inuyama Castle and is the site of Jo-an, a teahouse and a designated National Treasure.

The garden is just a 10-minute walk from Inuyama-Yuen Station (on the Meitetsu Inuyama Line) or 15 minutes from Inuyama Station.

From Nagoya Station , take the Meitetsu-Limited Express to Inuyama Station.

Inuyama is a city steeped in samurai history. Built in 1618 by Oda Uraku, a disciple of legendary tea master Sen no Rikyu and the younger brother of the fearsome warlord Oda Nobunaga, the teahouse Jo-an is considered a masterpiece of early Edo-period architecture and a beautiful example of 17th century refinement.

The garden is designed with the aesthetic of the tea ceremony in mind. As you wander through the bamboo groves and down the stone-paved paths, you can feel the sense of stillness and serenity that the Japanese art of tea instills.

Entry to the Jo-an teahouse is restricted. But matcha is served in the garden for a fee. You can also enjoy a Japanese tea and sweet set served on locally-made china.