Yokohama Sankeien Garden to Host "Early Morning Lotus Viewing" from July 25, 2026 (Sat)

Sankeien Garden (Location: Naka-ku, Yokohama), a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty, will hold its "Early Morning Lotus Viewing" event on six Saturdays and Sundays from July 25 (Sat) to August 9 (Sun), 2026.

Lotus flowers, which bloom purely from mud, were particularly loved by Sankeien's founder, Hara Sankei, as flowers of high virtue. In line with the lotus's habit of starting to bloom at dawn and reaching its peak viewing time around 7-9 AM, the garden will open at 7 AM during this period.

Lotus experience corners where visitors can learn about lotus flowers through play, and workshops for making fans using lotus leaves will be held. Limited breakfast menus will also be available at the garden's tea houses.

"Early Morning Lotus Viewing" Overview

Dates: July 25 (Sat), 26 (Sun), August 1 (Sat), 2 (Sun), 8 (Sat), 9 (Sun), 2026

Time: 7:00 AM onwards (Closing at 5:00 PM)

Admission Fee: Garden entrance fee only (some events are charged)

Experiential Event "Lotus Experience Corner"

The lotus plants grown at Sankeien are primarily primitive lotus, a tall and vigorous variety. At the lotus experience corner, with the support of volunteers, visitors can learn about the unique ecology of lotus plants through activities using lotus stems and leaves.

Children can also easily participate with parental accompaniment.

Dates: July 25 (Sat), 26 (Sun), August 1 (Sat), 2 (Sun), 8 (Sat), 9 (Sun)

Time: 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Location: Special tent near the Lotus Pond in the Outer Garden, etc.

Content: Lotus leaf shower, lotus fiber extraction experience, leaf mask making, lotus seed/receptacle giveaway (donation-based)

Fee: Free (entrance fee separate)

Workshop "Making Fans with Lotus Leaves"

Fans made with lotus leaves [Limited Edition] Lotus Leaf Goshuincho (Temple Stamp Book)

This is an art workshop where participants can freely attach real lotus leaves and enjoy coloring them. Adults and children can enjoy creating a one-of-a-kind fan with their own unique ideas. All necessary materials will be provided at the venue, so you can participate empty-handed. A limited edition lotus leaf goshuincho will also be on sale at the venue.

Dates: July 25 (Sat), 26 (Sun), August 1 (Sat), 2 (Sun)

Time: 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM (Duration: 30 minutes)

Location: Sankeien Memorial Hall Entrance Hall

Fee: 3,500 yen (tax included, entrance fee separate)

Registration: Accepted at the venue

Organizer: Botany Painting Executive Committee (https://botanypainting.com/)

*Congestion is expected in the morning. Please note that you may have to wait during busy periods.

Limited Breakfast Menu

This limited menu for the Early Morning Lotus Viewing event is popular every year. The breakfasts, prepared with unique ideas by each tea house, are reputed to be refreshing and gentle on the stomach. All shops open at 7:00 AM and serve on a first-come, first-served basis.

Other Summer Events

120th Anniversary Special Exhibition "Sankeien Depicted"

This exhibition will feature paintings of Sankeien Garden from the garden's collection. From landscape paintings that capture the scene as it is, to works reconstructed into abstract images, and friendly, pop illustrations, a variety of expressions will be gathered in one place.

Dates: June 6 (Sat) - September 7 (Mon)

Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Last admission 4:30 PM) (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM on Lotus Viewing days)

Fee: Free (entrance fee separate)

Morning Glory Exhibition

Morning glories, widely cultivated and loved since the Edo period. Approximately 40 varieties will be exhibited daily, including "Large-flowered Morning Glories" exceeding 20 cm in diameter and "Mutant Morning Glories" with variations in petals and leaves. Every day during the period, 10 lucky winners will receive morning glory seedlings at 10:00 AM.

Dates: July 24 (Fri) - 28 (Tue)

Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Location: Outer Garden Central Plaza, Tsukikage no Chaya

Content: Morning glory exhibition, advice on growing morning glories, sale of seeds and seedlings (sales end when stock runs out)

Fee: Free (entrance fee separate)

Organizers: Sankei-en Hoshokai Foundation, Yokohama Asagao Kai

Support: Yokohama City Greenery Bureau, Yokohama Greenery Foundation

Facility Overview

Facility Name: Sankeien Garden (Sankeien)

Operation: Sankei-en Hoshokai Foundation

Location: 58-1 Honmoku San-no-ya, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0824

Contact: TEL 045-621-0635

Official HP: https://www.sankeien.or.jp

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sankeien_garden

X: https://x.com/HSankeien

Admission Fee: Adults 900 yen / Elementary and Junior High School Students 200 yen

Seniors 65 and over residing in Yokohama City: 700 yen (proof of residency required)

Opening Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Last admission 4:30 PM)

Opening at 7:00 AM on Early Morning Lotus Viewing days

Access: 10-minute bus ride from JR Negishi Station to Honmoku bus stop, then a 10-minute walk.

40-minute bus ride from Yokohama Station East Exit to Sankeien Iriguchi bus stop, then a 5-minute walk.