- Address: Shimogamohangicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0823, Kyoto Prefecture
- Phone: +81 75-701-0141
- Opening hours: 09:00 - 17:00
- Year of foundation: 1924
- Area: 24 hectares
Japanese parks do not just have a picturesque and unusual landscape, but also express a world outlook, worldview and philosophy. Local residents pay great attention to the development of the territory and use for this ancient wisdom. One of the most beautiful parks on the planet is the Botanical Garden in Kyoto (Kyoto Botanical garden), which is called "4 Seasons".
Description of sight
In the first place here are stones, sand, dwarf plants, pebbles and bizarre streams. At the heart of the park is the atmosphere of mystery, and the perfection of forms and the spirit of things have an inconceivable inner power, felt by visitors at every step.
The Botanical Garden in Kyoto is Japan's first municipal park, which was founded in 1924. Its total area is 120 thousand square meters. After the end of World War II, American troops were stationed here. Soldiers occupied this territory until 1957. Re-official opening of the institution took place in 1961.
What to see in the park?
Currently, about 120 thousand plants can be seen in the Botanical Garden. The whole territory of the park is divided into thematic zones:
- exhibition of bonsai;
- bamboo garden;
- cherry trees (sakura);
- Camellia garden;
- Japanese irises;
- European garden;
- pond with lotuses;
- garden of hydrangeas and peonies;
- grove of the mind;
- sunken garden;
- a garden of useful and perennial plants.
Separately located greenhouses, which look like one large complex. Here grow more than 25 000 copies, represented 4.5 thousand species. The building was built in 1992 from an iron frame and glass. The whole territory is also divided into thematic sections:
- orchid garden;
- hall of insectivorous and aquatic plants;
- cactus forest;
- zone of the jungle;
- garden of mountain and tropical plants;
- pineapple hall;
- plants of savanna and desert.
Through the Botanical Garden in Kyoto, there is a large river Kamo (Kamogawa). On the territory of the park there is also a big lake Nakaragi-no-mori and the Shinto ancient Nagaraki temple. The name translates as "trees by the pond". The sanctuary was often flooded with water, and to punish a harmful deity, the monastery was renamed Nakaragi, which means "half-tree". By the way, the floods after that ended.
The Botanical Garden in Kyoto is a national treasure of Japan, the uniqueness of which is to reflect the long-standing traditions of the people with the addition of European culture. This institution is included in the top 10 parks in the world, and there is always a large number of tourists. Especially a lot of people in the spring and autumn. Each plant has its own unique color and hue. For example, the tree niggly resembles its leaves thousands of soaring butterflies, and cherry blossoms fascinate with fragrance and grace.
Features of visit
The Botanical Garden in Kyoto is open every day from 09:00 am to 17:00 pm, with the last visitors allowed until 16:00. The cost of admission is small and is less than $ 1.
The territory of the park is equipped with benches, fountains, pavilions and places for a picnic with a barbecue. On weekends there are open craft markets where musical ensembles perform. Almost all indexes and tablets are written in Japanese.
There is also a small restaurant where you can eat deliciously, but you should note that the staff does not know English, and the menu is made in the local language without photos. Be ready for this and if you plan to stay in the garden for a long time, you better take food with you.
How to get there?
From the city center of Kyoto to the botanical garden, you can take the subway line Karasuma Line to the station of Kitaayama, near which is the entrance to the park. The journey takes up to 20 minutes. By car it is most convenient to get to the highway of Horikawa and Karasuma. The distance is about 5 km.