A good place for visitors to Kyoto, to stroll and enjoy seasonal scenery, especially cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves.
The Kyoto Botanical Garden (京都府立植物園), located north of Kyoto city is the oldest botanical garden in Japan. There are 120,000 plants from 12,000 species in various different sections to discover within 240,000 m² of land. Visitors can wander through garden sections of Roses, Bamboo, Hydrangeas, Japanese Iris, Lotus pond and European-style plants. There are Japanese favourites of Cherry trees (Sakura) and Plum trees (Ume), and the Bonsai tree exhibition for Something more typical Japanese.
There is also the 4,612 m² conservatory, reaches a height of 48m, one of the largest in Japan. The conservatory is divided into seven separate zones including tropical, highland, lowland and Alpine. As well as those sections, there is also plenty of open lawn space, tables and benches, providing excellent spots for picnic.
Features
Visitors can stroll around the botanical garden while admiring cherry blossom.
During the cherry blossom season is the most popular time of year to visit the garden. People flock to enjoy the beauty of 500 sakura cherry trees in bloom, and the garden opens late to show lit up cherry blossom in evenings.
You can also stroll along the Nakaragi-no-michi, the section of the path in front of the Kyoto Botanical Garden, at the hiking trail along Kamogawa River from Kitaoji-bashi bridge. The cherry trees here are all weeping cherry blossom called “Beni shidare sakura”.
It’s also a great spot for viewing autumn color.
In autumn, you can see the leaves turning into red and yellow, while strolling the garden. Among the popular destination for autumn color in Kyoto, the botanical garden is a good spot as well maintained and less people.
If you’re visiting at a different time of year, the wide range of plants growing here welcome you. The bamboo garden has different varieties of bamboo, you can see so many varieties up close. The Hydrangea garden beyond the pond is spectacular in Summer. Visitors can walk into the middle of the Lotus by broad walks and see them up close. Their large green leaves are a stunning with soft pink flowers.
Address : Shimogamo Hangicho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-0823
Access : The north entrance is a short walk from Kitayama station. The south entrance is about 10-minute walk from Kitaoji station on the subway Karasuma line.
Hours : 9:00 to 17:00
Admission : 200 Yen