Looking for greenery during your visit to Monaco? We recommend a visit to the Japanese Garden in the Larvotto district. Although small, this garden respects the principles of Zen thinking. It was created by Japanese landscape architect Yasuo Beppu at the request of Prince Rainier III in 1994. It’s the perfect place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city!
Here are our useful tips for planning your visit to the Japanese Garden in the Principality of Monaco.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Is a visit to Monaco’s Japanese Garden worthwhile?
Yes, it’s worth a visit. Green spaces are always appreciated in the Principality. Even if this small garden quickly becomes a tour de force, it offers a certain change of scenery, combining Japanese tradition with Mediterranean essences. We enjoyed watching the many koi carp in the main pool and strolling over the Japanese bridges that cross it.
It’s one of Monaco’s most beautiful gardens and one of the city’s best activities.
What you can see
The main gate
The main portal allows visitors to immerse themselves directly in the land of the rising sun! We recommend that you take the time to read the explanatory panels along the way. Thanks to this, we learned that the tiles used on this massive entrance came from the Japanese island of Awaji. In Japan, tiles replaced straw roofs, which were too fragile, from the 17th century onwards (Edo era). Finally, the “devil” tiles at either end of the portal were once used to ward off evil spirits. In any case, we thought they gave this set a nice decorative touch!
The Pierre Fontaine and other sculptures
Once inside, we turned left. We came across the Pierre Fontaine. Installed in a small pool, this round sculpture, decorated with Japanese signs, intrigued us. It is from this stone that the spring flows into the large basin. Symbolically, it ensures the Principality’s prosperity. Decorative stone lanterns can be seen along the way. Originally, they enabled worshippers to light candles in honor of deities near Japanese temples.
The covered terrace and its Japanese dolls
You won’t want to miss the covered garden terrace. In fact, it’s the most imposing traditional Japanese building on the tour, and our favorite of the visit. The interior is open onto the large basin, and offers the most beautiful view of its curved red Japanese deck. Showcases displaying traditional Japanese objects are installed in this building. We were able to observe this magnificent doll, as well as a reduction of Samurai armor, offered to Prince Rainier III on the occasion of the purification of the Japanese Garden.
The big pond and its carp
We then crossed over to the main pool, taking time to sit on the edge and watch the koi carp. A wide variety of carp live in the pond. We learned to recognize them thanks to an explanatory panel with their Japanese names. If we’ve understood their differences correctly, this pretty carp appears to be an Ochiba Shigure.
The Tea House
After crossing the pond, we were drawn to this small traditional house, called the “Tea House”. On its pediment, we noticed 2 Japanese signs and their French equivalent, “Ga-én” meaning “Grace Garden”, in homage to Princess Grace of Monaco. You’ll notice that the entrance is very small. It’s a deliberate choice, aimed at imposing a certain humility on guests. This is the type of house where tea ceremonies are held in Japan. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get in as it was closed.
The dry landscape
Next to the Tea House, you may be surprised to see this expanse of small stones, contrasting with the rest of the greener garden. As far as we were concerned, we were somewhat surprised by the shapes drawn on the floor. The cartel helped us understand that these lines represented islands emerging from the water. This reminded us of the configuration of the large basin, featuring several small islands made of pebbles. This area, known as the “dry landscape”, is made up of Cap Corse stone.
The waterfall
Finally, we had to mention the garden’s beautiful waterfall, in front of which we stood for a few minutes. We wanted to enjoy the sound of falling water in the pool, which almost covered the hustle and bustle of city life. Waterfalls are an important part of Japanese symbolism. Their verticality expresses the power of man and nature, and evokes the divine mountains of the land of the rising sun.
Access to the Japanese Garden in Monaco
Where is the garden?
- The garden is located in the Larvotto district of the Principality of Monaco.
- It’s a ten-minute walk from the famous Place du Casino.
Access by car and parking
The nearest parking lot (2 minutes’ walk) is the Portier underground parking lot. It charges for parking of 1 hour or more, and is open 24 hours a day.
OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Public transport access
The Jardin Japonais is easy to reach by public transport. The “Portier” stop is a 2-minute walk from the park. It is served by bus routes 5, 6 and 1, which also pass through the center of Monaco. To plan your route, we recommend you visit the official website of the public transport network here.
Access on organized tours
The Japanese Garden is a stopover on some organized tours. For example, you could opt for a multi-stop bus tour of Monaco, with the garden as the 3rd stop on the tour. Book your tour now.
Visiting difficulties
The garden is largely accessible. Only a few passages can be narrow (notably near the waterfall), making it difficult to move around in busy conditions.
Visit Monaco’s Japanese Garden: useful tips
Schedules and prices
- April 1 to October 31: open daily, 9 am to 6:45 pm.
- November 1 to March 31: open daily, 9am to 5:45pm.
Visits are free of charge.
How long
Allow 20min to 1h for your visit, whether or not you’d like to sit by the pool for a while.
Best moment
We recommend a visit in the morning to protect you from the heat and Mediterranean sun. Indeed, the garden (except for the covered terrace) has few shady spots. What’s more, the park is small and traffic can be difficult during peak periods.
Direction of visit
You’ll find a map at the entrance to the garden. Thanks to its small size, you won’t get lost. As for us, we started on the left-hand side, then crossed the pond to reach the Tea House, the waterfall and the dry landscape.
Eating out
No picnics or snacks are allowed in this protected garden, which has been awarded the “Espace Vert Écologique” label. On the other hand, it’s close to many restaurants. Next, we recommend a trip to Plage du Larvotto. Along the way, you’ll find some great addresses (Avenue 31, La Table d’Élise, Song QI…), which we’ve listed in our article on the best restaurants to eat in Monaco.
Hotels
The Larvotto district, where the Jardin Japonais is located, is home to a number of quality hotels. Here are our recommendations for your stay in Monaco:
WHERE TO STAY IN Monaco
Option 1: In Monte Carlo
Discover luxury palaces in Monaco’s most sought-after district:
- Hotel de Paris – see prices, pictures and availability
- Hermitage Hotel – see prices, photos and availability
- Hotel Métropole – see prices, photos and availability
Option 2: Larvotto
Close to Larvotto beach, you’ll find some splendid resort hotels.
We recommend..:
- Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort – view prices, pictures and availability
- Le Méridien Beach Plaza – view prices, pictures and availability
Option 3: At Port-Hercule
Boutique hotels, with superb views of the port and the Rock.
- Hotel Miramar – prices, pictures and availability
- Port Palace – see prices, photos and availability
