Region
Shikoku
Island
Shikoku
Largest City
Kochi
Population
813,980

Makino Botanical Gardens

Flora, fauna and fascination at these lovely botanical gardens.

Over 3000 species of plants and countless animal species call the Makino Botanical Gardens their home. The Museum of Plants and People was opened in 1999 to carry on the legacy of Dr. Tomitaro Makino, the celebrated botanist, by educating visitors about the wildlife living all around them.

Perfect for an afternoon walk during good weather, walking the grounds alone would take you around two hours. Alongside the gardens themselves is a research facility, an exhibition hall displaying information about Dr. Makino’s life and a conservatory of exotic plants.

10 Reasons Why You Need to Visit Kochi

10 Reasons to Visit Kochi
If you want to relax and spend a chunk of your day here, enjoy local food with a French flair at the Arbre cafe and restaurant. There are two shops selling merchandise such as speciality foods and Kochi souvenirs: Byca-auren and Nonoca. Both sell seasonal plants so those gifted with green fingers can take back a little bit of this sunny prefecture to your home country.

Staff members are friendly and helpful, and always happy to talk about the gardens they love as well as dispensing advice to those wanting to cultivate their own. Because of the various plantlife, the garden changes completely from season to season. In springtime, it’s one of the prime spots for cherry blossom viewing and in autumn, the leaves are a fiery array of reds and gold. So you might just have to come back again.

Trivia

10 Reasons to Visit Kochi

10 Reasons Why You Need to Visit Kochi

10 reasons to visit this little-known gem in southern Japan. As if you need an excuse.

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Things To Know

Opening Hours

9:00 – 17:00, daily. Closed 27th December – 1st January.

Entrance Fees

¥720 per person or a group discount of ¥100 when travelling with a group of 20 or more.

How To Get There

Address

4200 Godaisan, Kōchi-shi, Kōchi-ken 781-8125, Japan

By car

From Kochi Station, it takes approximately 20 minutes by car or taxi or 40 minutes from Kochi Ryoma Airport. The Gardens have free parking available.

Where To Stay

Hotel Tosaji Takasu
  • 2-6-55 Takasu (Chome), Kochi-Shi, Kochi, 781-8104 Japan
  • From ¥5500
  • 1.6 km
Hotel Best Price Kochi
  • 16-12 Minamihoeicho, Kochi-Shi, Kochi, 780-0816 Japan
  • From ¥40000
  • 2.5 km
Hotel Chres
  • 155 Takasusunaji, Kochi-Shi, Kochi, 781-8101 Japan
  • From ¥6400
  • 2.5 km
Kochi Prince Hotel
  • 4-2 Minamihoeicho, Kochi-Shi, Kochi, 780-0816 Japan
  • From ¥8250
  • 2.6 km
Tomarigi Hostel Shu
  • 8-4 Saenbacho, Kochi-Shi, Kochi, 780-0823 Japan
  • From ¥7700
  • 3.1 km

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