Often overlooked by visitors, the Kyoto Botanical Gardens is one of the city’s hidden treasures. It’s great for picnics, strolling or cherry blossom viewing.
Conservatory of The Kyoto Botanical Garden: Isaac Mok / Shutterstock.com
Located on the east bank of the Kamo-gawa River, midway between between Kitaoji-dori Street and Kitayama-dori Street, the Kyoto Botanical Gardens (Kyoto Shokubutsu-en in Japanese) rivals the Kyoto Imperial Palace Park as the single best park in all of Kyoto. It’s got extensive groves of cherry trees, huge beds of planted flowers, open fields for picnics and a greenhouse that contains a great variety of tropical plants. For some reason, the cherry blossoms seem to hang on longer here than in other parts of the city, so if you think you’ve just missed the blossoms, take a trip here and you just might find some cherries still working.
Read our in-depth exploration of Kyoto Botanical Gardens for more information.
English address:
Shimogamohangi-cho, Sakyo-ku
Japanese address:
左京区下鴨半木町
Opening hours:
Gardens: 9am-5pm, last entry 4pm
Greenhouse: 9am-4pm, last entry 3:30pm
Closed December 28 – January 4
Admission:
Gardens:
Adults: \200
High school students: \150
Elementary & junior high school students: \80
Greenhouse:
Adults: \200
High school students: \150
Elementary & junior high school students: \80
Non-smoking area: Yes
Nearest Transport:
5min walk from Kitayama Station, Karasuma subway line
Nearest Hotels:
:: Check availability and pricing for hotels near to Kyoto Botanical Gardens on Booking.com or Agoda.com.
Telephone:
701-0141
Website:
Official website (Japanese)
Where Is This Place Located?
See these places on our Kyoto Google map:- Open the Kyoto map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Near To Here:
Kyoto Botanical Gardens is located in Central Kyoto. See our complete list of things to do in Central Kyoto, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
- Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
- If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help