The first installment in our “Kyoto Locals’ Favorite Relaxation Spots” series: the “Kyoto Prefectural Botanical Garden.”
I get the feeling there are hardly any tourists here.
Even so, it attracts about 900,000 visitors annually, and apparently has the highest visitor count of any public botanical garden in Japan.
It’s truly beloved by Kyoto locals.
It has a long history and is Japan’s first public botanical garden.
It opened on January 1, 1924, during the Taisho era.
Hearing that might give you the impression that it’s old-fashioned, but it’s actually very beautiful.
The park is very well maintained.
So just walking around here feels really nice.
With its peaceful atmosphere and beautiful flowers and plants, it’s perfect for a stroll.
Admission is only 200 yen. That’s a total bargain for a walking trail. I’m so grateful.
It’s free for middle school students and younger!
You should definitely bring your kids here.
It’s so spacious that kids can run around freely. And since cars aren’t allowed, it’s completely safe.
It’s a 1-minute walk from Kitayama Station on the Karasuma Line.
This location is also very accessible.
As soon as you walk in, the first thing you see is flowers, flowers, and more flowers.
I have absolutely no idea what kind of flower this is, but it’s beautiful anyway.
A flood of colors right before my eyes.
Of course, butterflies come too.
At first glance, I thought this was a flower, but it’s actually a chili pepper! It’s still beautiful, though.
You can take a close look at it right here.
Beyond the flower bed lies a dense forest. Let’s go check it out.
Hanki Forest. I hear that this area still has forests that are close to their original, natural state.
Even though it’s right in the middle of the city, it’s perfect for forest bathing. What a treat!
There’s a pond, too. It’s pretty big.
It’s really soothing.
There aren’t many people around, which is nice.
The streets are wide, making it easy to walk.
There are wild birds among the trees, too.
These are plants from a region that gets a little hot.
It has a Mexican vibe. Plants like these are pretty cool, too.
There is also a greenhouse filled with tropical plants.
It’s warm and cozy here in the winter. It might be nice on rainy days, too.
I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to come here in the summer, though, lol.
Cacti, too—look, just like this.
There are so many different kinds, aren’t there?
I haven’t really seen anything like this before.
It kind of looks like a dinosaur.
It looks like the scales of a monster from a fantasy movie.
There are plants of all sizes. This is the highland plant area.
Highland plants have a certain elegance about them.
I guess there are all kinds of shades of green.
Next to the greenhouse area is a park with playground equipment.
It’s perfect for playing with kids. In fact, you can easily spend a whole day there.
Next to it is an area with tables and benches.
You’re free to bring your own food, so it’s best to bring a packed lunch and eat here.
If you’re curious, there’s a book inside the mushroom in the middle.
On a nice day, I’d love to relax here and soak up the warmth.
This is the Western-style garden area. The flowers are just amazing!
The ground looks kind of like Disneyland.
What do you call this type of surface—it’s not concrete, but it’s a little springy?
It’s a sea of flowers. Flowers as far as the eye can see.
This is the rose garden. It’s so big!
The highlight is definitely this plaza. It’s so spacious!
You can play catch, play badminton, lie down—there’s plenty to do.
It’s already evening, huh? I’ve really enjoyed myself. I guess I’ll head home.
Kyoto Prefectural Botanical Garden
606-0823
Shimogamo-Hanki-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
Phone: 075-701-0141
Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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