Take a self-guided audio tour
Hire a handset for a self-guided tour through the garden layout, covering Hearn's writings, folklore and life. Audio guides are available in five languages: English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish.
Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens
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About
A compact Japanese garden above Tramore Bay that tells one man's story — Irish-Greek writer Lafcadio Hearn — through eleven linked garden scenes, from a Victorian childhood to a Japanese tea house.
Things to Do
See the Tea House and Tea Garden
The ceremonial Tea House and Tea Garden are among the eleven garden areas, featuring Japanese plants and architectural features inspired by the stories and legends of Japan that fascinated Hearn.
Walk the 11 garden areas
The gardens are laid out as a living biography, moving from the Victorian Garden of Hearn's childhood through the American Prairie and Greek gardens to the Japanese garden, stream garden, woodlands, Mountain Path and Journey's End. Story boards explain the symbolism of the rocks and planting. Visitors receive a garden map at entry.
Book a guided tour
A tour guide leads an insightful, dramatic walk through Hearn's life and the making of the garden. It must be booked at least three days ahead, needs a minimum of five adults, and a higher-tier version includes entry to the ceremonial Tea House.
Coffee at Kokoro Cafe
The upper-floor Kokoro Cafe serves tea, coffee and fresh cakes daily, with a deck looking out over Tramore beach and bay. There is also an indoor event space and a small retail corner selling Hearn books, Japanese crafts and local cards.
Children's discovery and fairy trails
Kids get an Educational Discovery Trail, a Woodland Fairy Trail and an interactive touch screen, plus secret pathways and Hearn's fairytales and folklore. Events for younger visitors include the Midsummer Fairy Festival.
Enchanted Garden Winter Lights
From late November to the end of December the gardens become a winter light display, lit 4.30pm to 7.30pm roughly four nights a week, with animal sculptures, a one-way route, hot chocolate and live winter characters.
Plan Your Visit
- Hours: Open every day 10.00am to 6.00pm, last entry 5.15pm. Closed 17 March, 24, 25 and 26 December; the gardens are under maintenance through January and opening times may vary then. Check the Facebook page in extreme bad weather.
- Admission: Adults €8, children under 15 €4
- Parking: Parking may not be available outside the gardens or on Pond Road, which gets congested; park on nearby streets leading down to Pond Road rather than on Pond Road itself. Parking around Tramore town centre is free.
- Food: Kokoro Cafe on site for tea, coffee and fresh cakes — Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm, Saturday and Sunday 10.00am to 5.00pm. Takeaway tea, coffee, hot chocolate and snacks are also available to enjoy on the decking or garden seating. No picnics allowed.
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