Along with Kairaku-en in Mito and Koraku-en in Okayama, Kenroku-en stands as one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan and is a must-visit spot in Kanazawa. Kenroku-en has been designated a national special place of scenic beauty. Kenroku-en was created over a prolonged period by successive lords of the Kaga Domain, as a prominent garden exclusively for the pleasure of daimyo [feudal lords] during the Edo Era (1600/1603-1868), still has picturesque scenery all year round.

By introducing the element of the "Kaiyu [strolling]-style” garden, Kenroku-en is laid out with a variety of gardening techniques from different periods. The "Kaiyu [strolling]-style" garden consists of large ponds, hills, cottages and tea houses arranged on spacious ground to take a walk through the garden. Because of the geographic features such as winding streams connecting several ponds and artificially built hills with a variety of trees, this style is also referred to as a “'Kaiyu [strolling]-style' landscape garden incorporating ponds and hills”.
The name "Kenroku-en" literally means “garden that combines six characteristics”, representing the attributes which bring out the garden's stunning beauties of spaciousness and seclusion, artifice and antiquity, watercourses and panoramas.
Kenroku-en received the highest rating of three stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan and is also a popular tourist destination attracting visitors from abroad.

At Kenroku-en, beautiful seasonal scenery may be enjoyed, the cherry blossoms in spring, fresh greenery in early summer, autumn leaves, and "Yukitsuri" trees protected from snow in winter. Kenroku-en has been selected as one of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan, including Sakuragaoka and Renchimon-dori and many other vantage points to appreciate the cherry blossoms in all their glory. The "Kenroku-en Chrysanthemum Cherry Tree" has a particularly impressive sight to behold, with a rare variety with more than 300-petals on flower. In winter, catch a firsthand glimpse of "Yukitsuri", a technique to perserve trees and shrubs from heavy snow. A rope is suspended from a pole in the center of the tree and stretched taut from the branches in radial pattern, making it appear as though the tree is holding an umbrella, thus creating yet another poetic feature of Kenroku-en Garden - exclusive in winter. The Yukitsuri of the largest branches in the park, Karasaki Pine Tree, is particularly spectacular.

There are many restaurants and souvenir shops in Kenroku-en, to savor local dishes of Ishikawa Prefecture, starting with “Jibu-ni” [stewed chicken and vegetables], and soft-served ice cream with gold leaf. Also, appreciate the beautiful scenery of the garden while enjoying authentic Japanese treats "green tea and dango [sweet dumpings]". At the center of the garden is the "Izuze Tea House", serving the "Kenroku dango", homemade dumplings [dango] made with recipe passed down through generations for over 140 years. Relish the beautiful view of Kenroku-en while enjoying the "Kenroku dango" and other sweet treats.