Koishikawa Botanical Garden Travel Guide

Koishikawa Botanical Garden, formally known as the Botanical Gardens, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, is more than just a garden; it's a living museum and a center for botanical research. Established in 1684 by the Tokugawa Shogunate as a medicinal herb garden, it is one of the oldest botanical gardens in Japan. In 1877, it was transferred to the University of Tokyo and became the birthplace of modern botany in Japan.Covering over 16 hectares (40 acres), the garden showcases around 4,000 plant species, including 1,400 hardy woody species, 1,500 hardy herbaceous species, and 1,100 tropical and subtropical species. Many of these plants originate from Japan, Korea, and China. The garden's landscape features a blend of natural terrains, including plateaus, slopes, lowlands, and ponds, all carefully arranged to enhance the beauty and diversity of the plant collections.Visitors can explore various themed areas, such as the Japanese primrose collection, camellias, maple trees, bonsai trees and alpine plants. The garden is particularly enchanting during cherry blossom season, offering a less crowded alternative to other popular hanami spots. In autumn, the vibrant red Japanese maple trees create a stunning display.The garden also houses a herbarium with 1.4 million specimens and a library containing 20,000 botanical books and journals. These resources support ongoing research in plant evolution, phylogenetic systematics, and physiology. The garden has been designated as both a National Place of Scenic Beauty and a National Historic Site, recognizing its cultural and scientific significance.