Japanese Garden in Wrocław

The Japanese Garden in Wrocław (VROTS-wahv) is one of the oldest Japanese-style gardens in Central Europe, tucked into Szczytnicki Park next to the UNESCO-listed Centennial Hall. Created for the 1913 Centennial Exhibition, it is a calm oasis of ponds, a red arched bridge, waterfalls, stone lanterns and carefully pruned trees. It is one of the most peaceful things to do in Wrocław, especially in May, when the rhododendrons bloom, and in October, when the maples turn red.

History: from a 1913 exhibition to the 1997 flood

Wrocław was then the German city of Breslau. The garden was laid out in 1909–1913 at the initiative of Count Fritz von Hochberg and designed by Japanese gardener Mankichi Arai. After the exhibition most Japanese features were removed, but the pond, path layout and some plants survived.

A restoration designed by Professor Ikuya Nishikawa was carried out in 1996–1997 by Yoshiki Takamura with gardeners from Wrocław and Nagoya. The garden reopened in May 1997, only to spend three weeks underwater during the great flood that July, which killed about 70% of the new plantings. It reopened again in October 1999. The pond's shoreline is said to trace the Japanese character for "friendship."

What to see

• The pond and bridges: the flat Yumedono Bashi and the arched Taiko Bashi, leading toward the tea pavilion.
• Two waterfalls: the gentle "female" Onna-daki and the powerful "male" Otoko-daki.
• The Sukiya-mon gate, pavilions, stone lanterns and koi carp.
• Plants: around 200 species and varieties of trees and shrubs, nearly 100 from the Far East; the oldest oaks are about 200 years old.

Is it worth visiting and how long to stay?

Plan 60–90 minutes. It is small, so it is easy to combine with other sights nearby. Go early on a weekday for the calmest experience. Paths are narrow and uneven, and the arched bridges have steps, so stroller and wheelchair access is limited to parts of the garden. Photographers should aim for soft afternoon light over the pond.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026:

• Season: April 1 to October 31, daily 9:00 am–7:00 pm; closed in winter.
• Tickets: adults 30 PLN, reduced 20 PLN, family 80 PLN (two adults and at least two school-age children).
• Free: children under 3 and visitors with a disability certificate.

How to get there

The entrance is in Szczytnicki Park between the Pergola at Centennial Hall and Mickiewicza Street, about 3 km east of the Old Town. Take a tram to the Hala Stulecia stop (lines 1, 2, 4 and 10, among others). Drivers can use the paid underground garage at Centennial Hall. From Wrocław Airport, allow about 45 minutes by public transport.

Nearby

The Centennial Hall, the Multimedia Fountain and Wrocław Zoo with the Afrykarium are all within a few minutes' walk.