$"Learning About Cape Bulbs from Erioquest" brought us to Kochi, and now, we've finally reached the last installment of this Kochi series! Although the focus this time isn't so much on succulents, like in the Tokyo edition, I'll be sharing a digest of the botanical spots I visited during my trip. To sum it up, this was a Tomitaro Makino fan tour.
The model featured in these photos is an imaginary person generated with Midjourney.
# Makino Tomitaro Furusato-kan
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Our journey begins at the Makino Tomitaro Furusato-kan, located in Sakawa Town, about a 40-minute drive from the center of Kochi City. This museum is actually
a renovated version of the Kishiya house where Makino was born. Inside, you'll find a free exhibit with displays related to Makino and his life. I was struck by how clean and beautiful it is inside—turns out it was just renovated in February 2023!
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Makino as a boy his childhood room!
Reconstructed model of Kishiya. Only about one third of the original building remains today?# Kimpō Shrine
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Main Hall!
Approach to the ShrineRight behind the Kishiya house, up on the hillside, is Kimpō Shrine. This spot is known as
the very place where young Makino first encountered plants like Baikaouren, which shaped the course of his entire life.
The shrine sits quietly in a thick, atmospheric forest, much like it did in Makino's day—a setting so authentic that it was used as a location in the TV drama 'Ranman' (though they filmed only on the approach, not at the Main Hall itself). I’d imagined it was farther away (about as distant as Makino Park), but it turned out to be
so close you could call it the backyard. I bet he visited nearly every day!
# Meikyōkan
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Kimpō ShrineMakino's very first school was also less than a minute's walk away. Today, it's apparently used as a sort of community center.
# Sakawa Tourism Association & Old Folk House Café
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Sakawa Tourism Association!
Garden view from the Old Hamaguchi Residence Café—such a charming atmosphereIn short, this is a souvenir shop. The Old Hamaguchi Residence, which now houses part of the Tourism Association, was a sake brewery since the Edo period, and still retains its historical vibe.
From all the sake warehouses in the area, it’s clear that, just like the Kishiya house, many families here were involved in brewing.
Speaking of Kishiya, even though the Makino family had to give it up, it was passed on and is now managed by the sake brewery Tsukasabotan, who continue the tradition in Sakawa today. They offer sake brands named after Makino—such as “Hana to Koishite” and the gin “MAKINO.”
# Makino Park
If you’re in Sakawa, you should also visit Makino Park. This historical park began when Makino sent Somei Yoshino cherry trees from Tokyo, and local volunteers planted them. Now, the park’s hillside is covered in cherry trees that bloom in a spectacular display—or so I hear! Since I visited in the fresh green of early summer, azaleas were taking center stage, and I enjoyed a mini-hiking vibe along lush green trails. The view from the summit is truly breathtaking!
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At the summit you can really stand right at the top of this lookout rock! Not for those afraid of heights!!
Makino Park!
A spacious, park-like area at the top!
Wait, is that Makino himself? There’s a hat and botanist’s satchel left on a bench—perhaps he’s still out gathering plants somewhere nearby.
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The main highlights are the hiking trails and the trees planted alongside them!
View of Sakawa from the summit—the townscape seen in ‘Ranman’ looks just like this!
Makino’s grave—this place was once his home and is now his final resting place. For Makino, Sakawa truly was his whole life.# Mimot Engei / Tommy’s Garden
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One of the places I most wanted to visit in Kochi was Mimot Engei. They’re a plant producer who grow many flowers and succulents—I've often noticed their original-label succulents at garden centers.
Tommy’s Garden is the retail shop right next to the Mimot Engei office, and sells not just their own cultivars, but a wide variety of flowers and succulents.
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Inside the shop!
Succulent HouseWhat stands out about Mimot Engei’s succulents is that
many are clearly labeled with their origin-specific cultivar names, likely grown from seed supplied by Koehres. Also, I found their growing conditions to be on the milder side—when I brought home some souvenirs and left them out in blazing sun, they scorched almost instantly (whoops!), so maybe that's another feature of their plants.
^Generally speaking, it’s not recommended to keep Echeveria in blazing, direct sunlight. A gentler environment—like the one at Mimot Engei—is ideal.
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Echeveria runyonii San Carlos This was one of the few that didn’t get scorched... I’ll report back if it bounces back!# Plants of the Makino Botanical Garden
To finish off, here are some photos of the flowers that didn’t fit into the previous
Makino Botanical Garden special. I visited right at peak azalea bloom!
=(107)
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Azaleas in full bloom!
Sata Azalea!
On Azalea!
Bletilla striata!
Vinca major!
Dianthus!
Erigeron philadelphicusErigeron philadelphicus was growing wild here—a so-called “weed.” But Makino taught that we shouldn’t just lump wildflowers together as “weeds”; every plant has a name. This philosophy stuck with me, and I think of it whenever I see Erigeron—which is also the name of songs by YOASOBI and BUMP OF CHICKEN! With their delicate white and pink blooms, they’re among my favorite wildflowers.
!1[Houshou (Laurus nobilis)](10794165)
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Strongylodon macrobotrys!
Bottlebrush tree!
Iris ensata var. kamayama!
Primula sieboldii!
Delphinium ‘Pudel Blue’!
Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosumSince so much of the garden feels like a winding woodland path, you’ll find plenty of shade-loving varieties as well. I wonder why so many shade-blooming plants strike us as refined and understated—maybe it’s the flowers, or maybe we humans just learn to associate those colors with subtlety.
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Orchids brightening the greenhouse!
Vriesea correia-araujoi!
Neoregelia carolinae ‘Flandria’!
Jade vine# Closing Thoughts
Kochi has always felt a bit special to me (technically, it's my family register’s home!), but this was only my third time visiting. I quickly realized it’s only a four-hour drive by car—totally doable! And Erioquest was so approachable and welcoming, I’m already looking forward to coming again, just in a different season. Let’s see... Cape bulbs are happiest in November, Baikaouren blooms in February, Makino Park's cherry blossoms peak in April, and August is festival-time with Yosakoi. Honestly, there’s always a perfect excuse to visit Kochi!♫
