Japanese Garden Monaco

The Japanese Garden is one of the most surprising places in Monaco, a deliberately peaceful corner of stone, water and carefully shaped planting between the Grimaldi Forum and the sea. It was created in 1994 at the wish of Prince Rainier III and designed by the Japanese landscape architect Yasuo Beppu, who had won the top prize at the 1990 Osaka Flower Expo, and it covers about 7,000 square metres. Following the principles of Japanese garden design, it is built around a central pond with koi carp, water lilies and lotus flowers, with islands, small waterfalls, stone lanterns and little stone and wooden bridges leading you through. A traditional tea house sits among the greenery, and there is a Zen garden of raked gravel where you can sit and look at the patterns without any noise except the trickle of water. The contrast with the glamour of Casino Square, only a short distance away, is remarkable, and it is no surprise that the garden is popular with both local residents and travellers looking for a reset.

It is a good place to go slowly. Enter by the main gate and follow the paths around the pond, pausing on the bridges to watch the fish and look at the way the planting has been shaped, with carefully shaped planting, rocks and water arranged to give a different view from every bend. The garden is free and open every day of the year, from 9am to 6pm between November and March and from 9am to 7pm between April and October, which makes it simple to include at almost any point in the day.

Early morning is the most tranquil, when the light is soft and the garden is almost empty, and late afternoon, when the lanterns and stone catch the low sun, is the best for photography.

The setting adds to the appeal. The garden sits on the edge of the Larvotto district, close to the Grimaldi Forum, the seafront promenade and Larvotto beach, so it combines well with a swim or a stroll along the sea. The neighbourhood is also served by the hop-on hop-off bus, which has a stop nearby, and by local buses, so it is easy to reach without a long climb.

Combine it with the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco and a coffee on the seafront to make a gentle half-day away from the hills of the old town.

A few tips will help. The garden is a place for quiet, so keep voices low, keep to the paths and do not feed or touch the fish. Rules on dogs, bicycles, food and drink are posted at the entrance, so check the signs. The paths include small steps and narrow bridges, so pushchairs and wheelchairs may find parts of the route awkward.

In summer the shade is welcome, and in cooler months you may have the place almost to yourself. Allow thirty to sixty minutes, and take a few minutes to sit rather than rushing round. For many visitors, it is the most restful free hour in Monaco, and it is a lovely counterpoint to the casino and the marina.