The koraku-EN garden was laid out near Okayama castle in the end of XVII century on the orders of his owner, daimyo Ikeda of Tsunamis. The work was carried out from 1687 to 1700 years. Except for a few changes made by subsequent owners, the appearance of the garden has not changed since 1863. However, he changed his name. Initially, the garden was called Cohen, as was established later castle. Also this place was known as the Garden last pleasure – in the sense that, as said by the Chinese philosopher Fang Zhongyang, you need to grieve before others, and enjoy, after all, and this ability, in his opinion, is the property of a noble man. Name KORAKUEN garden was acquired in 1871.

When daimyo garden served as a place for receptions and entertainment of important guests. In 1884 KORAKUEN was transferred to the management of the administration of the Prefecture of Okayama and opened its gates to all comers.

The garden was twice restored: after the floods in 1934 and after the bombing of 1945. When the reconstructions used the image of the garden, made in the Edo period. In 1952, the garden received a special cultural status. KORAKUEN is recognized as one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan, along with Sumiyoshiya in Kanazawa and Kairakuen in MiTo.

Its area is about 133 thousand square meters. In the center of the garden is a pond with three Islands, which repeats the view of lake Biwa, the largest freshwater lake in Japan, sung in literary works. At one of the banks of the pond created by the hill the top of which you can admire the overall look of your garden. Space KORAKUEN is organized in such a way that with each new turn of the path the visitor has opened a new form. Moreover, with garden industrial landscapes of the city are completely invisible, and it creates an illusion of being in another, more harmonious reality.

Art lovers visit the garden in the spring, to see how black walls "crow" castle contrast with white and pink flowers blooming plums and cherries. Also in the garden of pines and maples, for the first time in Japanese garden art here were planted large grassy lawns. In the garden there are several tea houses and even a tea plantation.