Rakusan-en, Traditional Japanese garden in Kanra, Japan

Rakusan-en is an early Edo Period pond-strolling garden in Kanra, Gunma Prefecture. Its centre is a broad pond, the Konmei-ike, edged with low grey and tan rocks and holding an island; 48 stones called iroha-ishi are set around the water. The garden borrows the nearby Kumakura and Momiji hills as scenery, and a tall stone lantern stands beyond the far bank.

Rakusan-en was laid out in the early Edo Period by Oda Nobukatsu, a younger son of Oda Nobunaga. Nobukatsu's fourth son, Oda Nobuyoshi, became daimyo of Obata Domain in 1617, and the Oda clan ruled the area until the Meiji Restoration. The garden was restored to its early Edo appearance and reopened on 24 March 2012.

Two tea houses sit within the grounds where visitors can observe traditional Japanese tea ceremonies being conducted. These spaces follow classical design principles and show how such rituals have been part of garden life for centuries.

The grounds are open to visitors on most days and feature clearly marked paths for exploring the entire space. A slow pace allows you to enjoy views of the pond and surrounding landscape from different vantage points throughout your visit.

The garden incorporates the natural landscape of neighboring hills and mountains into its composition as an intentional design choice. This technique, called borrowed scenery, makes the surrounding terrain feel like an extension of the cultivated grounds.