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

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️🚣 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’ 😊”