The World’s 100 Best Botanical Gardens · 2026
The Best Classical Gardens in the World
7 of the 100 venues in The World’s 100 Best Botanical Gardens 2026 are classical gardens, in 3 countries. The highest placed is Kenroku-en in Kanazawa, Japan, at number 12 in the world. Okayama Korakuen in Okayama, Japan (number 27) and Shukkeien in Hiroshima, Japan (number 32) follow.
Gardens of the feudal lords
Five of the seven are in Japan. Four were laid out for feudal lords: Kenroku-en in Kanazawa, Okayama Korakuen, Shukkeien in Hiroshima and Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu. Visitors walk a circuit around ponds, artificial hills and shaped pines. Ritsurin has six ponds and thirteen hills, with Mount Shiun behind them. The fifth, Koko-en, opened in 1992 beside Himeji Castle on the site of samurai residences. Entry to each costs between 260 and 500 yen.
Outside Japan
Portland Japanese Garden stands on a forested hillside in Washington Park in Oregon, with koi ponds, waterfalls and bonsai, and a steep climb from the entrance. Parc Oriental de Maulévrier in western France has a central pond crossed by red bridges and holds night visits with lanterns in summer.
Venues
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N° 12
Kenroku-en
Kanazawa, Japan
Classical garden
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N° 27
Okayama Korakuen
Okayama, Japan
Classical garden -
N° 32
Shukkeien
Hiroshima, Japan
Classical garden -
N° 33
Ritsurin Garden
Takamatsu, Japan
Classical garden -
N° 46
Portland Japanese Garden
Portland, United States
Classical garden -
N° 92
Koko-en
Himeji, Japan
Classical garden -
N° 96
Parc Oriental de Maulévrier
Maulévrier, France
Classical garden
Best by region
- The NordicsGothenburg Botanical GardenGothenburg, SwedenN° 8
- EuropeBodnant GardenTal-y-Cafn, United KingdomN° 5
- AsiaRoyal Botanic Gardens, PeradeniyaKandy, Sri LankaN° 6
- The Middle EastDubai Miracle GardenDubai, United Arab EmiratesN° 13
- North AmericaThe Butchart GardensBrentwood Bay, CanadaN° 2
- The CaribbeanHunte’s GardensSaint Joseph, BarbadosN° 17
- Latin AmericaJardim Botânico do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, BrazilN° 28
- AfricaJardin d’Essai du HammaAlgiers, AlgeriaN° 1
- OceaniaRoyal Botanic Gardens MelbourneMelbourne, AustraliaN° 15