Kairaku-en - one of three parks along with Kenroku-en in Kanazawa and Koraku-en in Okayama, recognized as the most beautiful in Japan.

Kairaku-en in the city of Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture heart was broken on the orders of Tokugawa Nariaki, who headed the fief of Mito, in 1841, and the general public it was made a year later. Nariaki loved plum trees, so on the territory of kairaku-en was laid a large plum grove, and throughout the Mito their possession were planted very much. Japanese plum admired their ruler combination of spiritual and practical plum blossoms first, decorating the arrival of spring and autumn gave delicious fruit that could preserve and eat in the winter.

Nariaki was a very active and progressive ruler after his death was named "Burning Prince." Kairaku-en Park was conceived by him as one of the attempts to reduce the distance between the government and ordinary people. In documents preceding the creation of the park was designated objective of this project as "effort and relaxation". Besides the park, Nariaki established a school for the training of young samurai Kodokan adjacent. After the effort in it, the disciples were to enjoy relaxing in the park.

The park Kayrakuen planted about 100 different varieties of plums, only about three thousand trees, which begin blooming in late February - early March. From February 20 to the last day of March in the park held Plum Blossom Festival, which attracts many Japanese and visitors. Only during the festival at the local railway station makes a stop train, on other days Express runs non-stop. In April, the park kairaku-en cherry blossom, then it's time to start flowering azaleas.

The park is located Shinto shrine erected in honor of representatives of the Tokugawa clan, as well as the wooden pavilion Kobuntey three floors. The building held many cultural events with the participation of poets and artists, as well as citizens of venerable age (over 80 years) and most Nariaki.

During World War II the park kairaku-en was almost completely destroyed by the bombing, but in 1958 it was restored.