Koishikawa Botanical Garden

Welcome to the Koishikawa Botanical Garden, the oldest facility of its kind in Japan. This 40-acre sanctuary is more than just a park; it is a primary research site for the University of Tokyo and a living archive of Japanese…

We begin in the area that represents the garden's original purpose: the medicinal herb beds. In the 17th century, the Tokugawa Shogunate established this site to cultivate plants for the 'Koishikawa Yojosho,' a free hospital for…

Standing prominently in the lower section of the garden is a striking red-brick and white-plaster building. This is the former main hall of the University of Tokyo's Department of Botany, built in the late 19th century. …

One of the most visually stunning features of Koishikawa is the cherry tree allée that runs through the heart of the garden. During the spring, this path is transformed into a tunnel of pink and white blossoms. …

The lower section of the garden is dominated by a series of ponds and aquatic environments. These water features are not merely for decoration; they are vital for the study of wetland ecology and water-dwelling plants. …

For those interested in non-native species, the greenhouse area offers a journey through the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. These climate-controlled structures allow the University of Tokyo to maintain a vast…

Our final section of the garden takes us through the more traditionally landscaped areas, which feature strolling paths that wind through ancient groves and open fields. Here, the focus is on the aesthetic arrangement of trees…

As we conclude our tour of the Koishikawa Botanical Garden, I invite you to reflect on the 'spirit of inquiry' that defines this site. From its origins as a Shogunate medicinal bed to its current status as a world-class research…