Experience
Half a Day at the Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden
Overview
The Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden is a comprehensive botanical garden opened on Mount Godai in Kochi City in 1958 to honor the achievements of Dr. Tomitaro Makino, the botanist known as the “father of Japanese plant taxonomy.”Spread across approximately eight hectares on the slopes of Mount Godai, the garden features more than 3,000 plant species throughout the year, including many associated with Dr. Makino. The exhibition hall's permanent display, “The World of Plants,” presents Japanese botanical culture in an accessible way through Dr. Makino's original botanical illustrations and specimens, as well as interactive exhibits including 4K VR footage.The garden is also conveniently located about 30 minutes from JR Kochi Station on the MY Yu Bus sightseeing bus, making it easy to include as a cultural and nature experience alongside a visit to Temple 31, Chikurinji, during a half-day to full-day Shikoku Pilgrimage itinerary.
Highlights
On the Shikoku Pilgrimage, the Makino Botanical Garden makes a memorable stop—a place to gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture through plants.
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The Story of Dr. Tomitaro Makino
Original illustrations, specimens, and interpretive displays introduce the life and research of Dr. Tomitaro Makino (1862–1957), a world-renowned botanist from Kochi. Together, they offer a vivid sense of how Japanese people have viewed nature and how botanical scholarship has developed.
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The Changing Seasons and 3,000 Plant Species
Alongside diverse vegetation from southwestern Japan, the grounds include a jungle-like conservatory and the 50th Anniversary Garden, which brings together ornamental plants from across Asia. Seasonal flowers and greenery fill the garden, offering a different landscape depending on when you make your pilgrimage.
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An Ideal Addition to a Pilgrimage
Accessible from JR Kochi Station by local bus or the MY Yu Bus, the garden is easy to combine with Temple 31, Chikurinji, which is also on Mount Godai. It offers pilgrims a restful place to soothe tired bodies among plants and quiet gardens. Chikurinji is a temple on Mount Godai, so the Makino Botanical Garden is a cultural facility on the same mountain and fits naturally into a pilgrimage itinerary.
Information
Please note that prices, services, and booking procedures were current at the time of writing and are subject to change.
- Nearest Temple：
- Temple 31, Chikurinji (located on the same Mount Godai. After leaving Chikurinji through its main gate, the botanical garden is on the left.)
- Duration：
- Allow approximately 2–4 hours to see the outdoor gardens, conservatory, permanent exhibition “The World of Plants,” cafe, and shop (suggested itinerary; confirm on site).
- Price：
- Adults: ¥850,High school students and younger: free,Group discounts available
- Language：
- Most signs in the garden are in Japanese, with some English explanations. The QR guide provides explanations on your smartphone in English, Chinese, and Korean, as well as Japanese.
- Booking：
- No reservation is required for general admission. Special exhibitions and events, including those at the Herbarium, may have separate requirements, so please check the official website before visiting.
- Website ：
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・Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden Official Website Japanese
・Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden Official Website English
・Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden Official Website Simplified Chinese
・Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden Official Website Traditional Chinese
・Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden Official Website Korean
Multilingual Pages: The multilingual pages are accessible from the official website, but only some pages may be available in other languages. For more detailed information, we recommend using your smartphone's translation app or browser translation function on the Japanese website.