About Shikoku

If you are a fan of one of the greatest painters, also known as Monet, you are sure to like this gem! 

It is a park with recreations of Monet’s most famous paintings. 

I myself have grown up with parents who love art, and I used to have a book about Monet’s paintings, which greatly sparked my interest in him as a painter. Especially the water lilies (Les Nymphéas), was one of my favorites. It extrudes a very calm aurora, and gives me a nostalgic feeling just by looking at it. Therefore it was really fun for me, to see all of these pictures that I have only ever seen in books, existing in real life. 

Even though there is plenty of vending machines outside of the garden, there is no one inside the garden, so be sure to bring some water bottles inside with you. Especially at the

Garden of Bordighera it gets so hot. It kind of hurt my eyes a little bit as, because it was so white.

They have the paintings up at the different places the recreated, so you can compare the 2 different version.

The entrance fee is 750yen, but with this ticket you’ll also get access to the Monet Garden in France, if you ever find yourself ending up there. It’s valid for 7 years, so you’ll have plenty of time to plan your future trip there. 

I spent about 3 hours at this place, but I also walked around every possible road in the Garden. When you are finished walking around the park, you can enjoy a meal just on the other side, where there are a little cute café (it is a bit expensive). They serve different dishes like pasta, ice cream, steaks, etc. at this place, so you will not be leaving hungry. 

There is also a little Rose Garden here, where you’ll be able to walk around and not just enjoy the view of the roses, but also the mountain it’s on and the sea, which can be seen from the Garden. 

From the train station to the Garden there is a shuttle bus that will only cost you about 250yen. In my opinion that’s a small price to pay compared to walking 40min in the heat.

There is also parkings places, if you have a car. Since I don’t even have a driver’s license, I don’t really think about parking places, so I don’t know if the parking lot at the garden is free, or if it cost money to park there.

The Garden is in Aki city that can be accessed by train or car(or bike, if you are feeling very sporty). You can buy a whole day pass from the Tourist information near the station, for 1600yen, which grants you the ability to hop on and off, where you want for the entirety of that day. To Aki, which is the end-station it takes about 1 hour to go there.

On the route to Aki, you’ll also find Iioki, which is home to the famous Iioki Cave that I have also writing about. 

From the traditional apartment it takes about 2,5-3 hours to drive down there by car. The way down there goes through a gorgeous mountain pass. I went with train, and this was the view most of the way. Going by train takes approximately 3,5 hours. 

Thanks for reading!

Useful Information:

Address: Ko-1100 番地 Notomo, Kitagawa, Aki, Kochi 781-6441

Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 (last guests can enter at 16:30)

Price: 730yen for adults

           310yen for kids (elementary and junior high school)

           if they are younger than elementary kids, then they get in for free

Website: https://www.kjmonet.jp/english/