---
title: Kenrokuen and its yukitsuri
url: https://karigurashijourney.com/en/notes/kenrokuen-and-its-yukitsuri/
lang: en
journey: https://karigurashijourney.com/en/episodes/kanazawa/
---

# Kenrokuen and its yukitsuri

A little of each town’s story　/　Kanazawa, Ishikawa

One of Japan's three great gardens, alongside Kairakuen in Mito and Korakuen in Okayama: a daimyo garden of the Edo period shaped over many years by successive lords of the Kaga domain. Yukitsuri, the ropes that protect the trees from heavy snow, are a winter tradition of Hokuriku; work begins every November 1 with the Karasaki pine, whose branches are held by about 800 ropes from five central poles.

## This moment in the journey: A garden of snow ropes

Leaving the teahouse, I walked through the garden. Over the mossy ground, still patched with snow, ran the ropes of yukitsuri, which hold up the branches. Morning light slanted between the trees, and a stone bridge crossed the pond.

I sat on a snow-covered bench and looked out past the rooftops of Kanazawa to the white mountains. Another day in Kanazawa was beginning.

![A mossy garden with lingering snow and yukitsuri ropes](https://karigurashijourney.com/img/kanazawa/s141-1200.jpg)
- Sources: https://shiro-niwa.pref.ishikawa.lg.jp/kenrokuen-garden/about.html
- Sources: https://www.pref.ishikawa.lg.jp/kisya/r7/documents/1027_10_kouennryokuti1.pdf

Read this scene in the full journey: https://karigurashijourney.com/en/episodes/kanazawa/