# Kyoto Botanical Garden

> Opened in 1924 and billed as Japan's oldest public botanical garden: 24 hectares by the Kamo River, about 500 cherry trees and a large glass conservatory, all for 500 yen. Exit 3 of Kitayama subway station opens onto the north gate.

- Prefecture: Kyoto
- Type: Garden
- Address: Kyoto, Japan
- Opening hours: Mon–Sun 09:00–17:00
- Closed: Closed from December 28 to January 4.
- Hours note: Last entry to the garden is at 16:00. The conservatory is open 10:00 to 16:00, last entry 15:30. Hours can shift with the season or for events.
- Admission: 500 yen
- Official site: https://www.kyotobotanicalgardens.jp/

Exit 3 of Kitayama subway station comes up straight into the north gate, which makes this one of the easiest green spaces in Kyoto to reach. The garden opened on 1 January 1924 to mark the Taisho emperor's enthronement and calls itself Japan's oldest public botanical garden. It covers about 24 hectares on the east bank of the Kamo River and holds around 10,000 kinds of plants. Its history has a hard chapter: after the war, occupation forces requisitioned the site for 12 years, many trees were felled, and the garden did not reopen to the public until April 1961. In spring about 500 cherry trees flower across the grounds. The glass conservatory, finished in 1992, has an outline modelled on Kinkaku-ji and the Kitayama hills, and its tropical rooms are a good escape on a cold or rainy day. Entry is included in the 500 yen ticket, but the conservatory keeps shorter hours, 10:00 to 16:00 with last entry at 15:30, so go there first if you arrive after lunch. The garden itself is open 9:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:00. Alcohol and pets are not allowed. A small cafe in the woods north of the big lawn and a shop in the garden hall sell drinks and snacks.

## FAQ

### How much does the Kyoto Botanical Garden cost?

500 yen for adults and 250 yen for high school students and people 65 and over; junior high school students and younger are free. The conservatory is included, with no separate fee. An annual pass costs 2,000 yen.

### What are the opening hours?

The garden is open 9:00 to 17:00 with last entry at 16:00, and the conservatory 10:00 to 16:00 with last entry at 15:30. It is closed from December 28 to January 4, and hours can shift with the season.

### When do the cherry trees bloom at the Kyoto Botanical Garden?

About 500 cherry trees flower across the grounds in spring, and different varieties open at different times. The garden's website posts what is in bloom.

### Can I bring food, drinks or a dog?

Alcohol and pets are not allowed, and neither are tents, sports equipment or speakers. There is a cafe in the woods north of the big lawn, and the shop in the garden hall sells drinks, bento, bread and ice cream.

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Source: Kyoto Botanical Garden — Japan Voyage