By HIROSHI HASHIGUCHI

Koishikawa Botanical Garden is one of the oldest gardens in Japan. It originated in Koishikawa Medicinal Herb Garden, which was established in 1684 by the Tokugawa Shogunate.This garden was where the modern scientific botany in Japan was born after the Meiji revolution.

Entrance to Koishikawa Botanical Garden | Photo by Author

Many universities have their own botanical gardens and Koishikawa botanical garden belongs to UTokyo. It is in Koishikawa, Bunkyo-ku, the same ward where Hongo campus is located.

“I like this garden because it has plenty of trees and flowers and I can experience the nature at the center of Tokyo. The size is quite large and I like it, too,” says a student. It is a beautiful Japanese garden with an area of about 160,000㎡ and where 4,000 trees and flowers are grown.

Photo by Author

If you go to the botanical garden in April, plenty of cherry blossom trees make a perfect spot for “Ohanami”, which is a Japanese style spring picnic under the cherry blossoms. You will absolutely enjoy it while talking, eating and drinking. If you go there in fall, you will definitely see the amazing autumn foliage such as those from Japanese maple trees.

Koishikawa Botanical Garden is located in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, about 15 minutes’ walk from Myogadani station. To get to Myogadani station, take the train at Komaba-todaimae station, go to Shibuya and change to the Ginza Line towards Akasaka-mitsuke. Change trains to Marunouchi Line at Akasaka-mitsuke Station and the train will take you to Myogadani station. UTokyo students can enter for free while others are required to pay an admission fee of 400 yen.

ou can enjoy the garden in different seasons and this place is worthy of visiting more than once! Invite your friends or classmates and have fun! Don’t forget to check the website for more details before going there.

http://www.bg.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/koishikawa/eng/