Kyoto Botanical Garden, Sakyo Ward, Japan
Located in the north of Kyoto, the Kyoto Botanical Garden was built on 240,000 m² of land donated by the wealthy Mitsui family of bankers and financiers to Kyoto city to commemorate the enthronement of the Emperor Taisho, in 1924.
Kyoto Botanical Garden is the oldest botanical garden in Japan with over 120,000 plants from 12,000 species.
The Kyoto Botanical Garden is a favorite place for visitors to Kyoto and Kyotoites themselves to stroll and picnic, especially in spring for the cherry blossom season and in fall for the autumn leaves. Regular light ups at night also attract people and a good place to keep warm in winter is at the spectacular conservatory (see the video below).
The Kyoto Botanical Garden is divided into various sections: the Bamboo Garden, Bonsai Exhibit, Camellia Garden, Cherry Trees (there are around 500 altogether of different varieties), European Style Garden, Flower Bed, Hydrangea Garden, Japanese Iris Garden, Japanese Native Plants, Lotus Pond, Nakaragi-no-mori Pond (trees native to the Yamashiro Basin), Peony Garden, Perennial and Useful Plants Garden, Sunken Garden; and the Uma Grove.
The Kyoto Botanical Garden fell into disuse after World War II but was revived in the 1960’s.
Epic Japan Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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