As I mentioned in my previous column (“Visiting Erioquest to Learn About Cape Bulbs”), I’d driven a rental car to Kochi just for that purpose—but since I was coming all the way to Kochi, there had to be more must-see spots! Right now, with the NHK morning drama “Ranman” riding a wave of popularity, what better timing to visit the Makino Botanical Garden named after Dr. Tomitaro Makino, the show’s protagonist? Here’s my report!
Long story short: Makino Botanical Garden is hands down my personal No.1 “Botanical Garden in Japan.” No question about it.
If you’re asking, “Wait, who is Tomitaro Makino?”—catch up in the column below.
As the name suggests, this is a public botanical garden built in Kochi City to honor the legacy of botanist Tomitaro Makino. It opened in 1958, the year after Makino’s passing. Unusually, it’s perched atop Godaisan, a mountain overlooking the city—a rare choice, since most botanical gardens are built on flat land. The iconic “Makino Tomitaro Memorial Hall” was added in 1999, with a 50th Anniversary Garden opening in 2008, and a renovated greenhouse in 2010—so while it has history, the grounds and facilities are constantly being updated, making it one of the most modern botanical gardens in Japan.
At first, I’ll be honest, I shrugged, “Well, since I’m all the way out here, might as well drop by…”—but after visiting, I realized how off-base that attitude was. For me, it’s solidly No.1 in my “Japan’s Botanical Gardens” ranking!
So, what exactly is so special about it? Here are some highlights I personally felt were impressive.
Once you start walking, you’ll feel it—the sheer ups and downs of the landscape! Most botanical gardens are flat and easy to stroll through, but Makino Botanical Garden is more like hiking in the mountains. To get to the next area, you tackle slopes, stairs, sometimes even off-the-beaten-path tracks—so heels are a major no. Sneakers are good, hiking shoes might be even better!
But you know what? This kind of setting is actually incredibly true-to-life for displaying Japanese plants. The varied terrain allows them to create forests, streams, steep slopes, marshes, wetlands—you name it—so you can plant all kinds of different vegetation. I don’t know of any other botanical garden where you can experience so many diverse ecosystems in such naturally realistic settings.
Apparently, Makino himself said during his life, “If you’re going to build a botanical garden, Godaisan is the place!” He really saw that this was the best location for creating dynamic environments. That kind of bold thinking—born of actually walking and studying real plant habitats—feels so characteristically ‘Makino’.
To be honest, a lot of botanical gardens can come off as a bit rustic. Plants and gardens are the stars, sure—but as someone who loves architecture and design, I sometimes find them visually lacking.
Enter the “Makino Tomitaro Memorial Hall.” It really is a ‘museum’ in every sense—but honestly, how many botanical gardens have such beautiful architecture? (Sure, there’s Shinjuku Gyoen, but that’s an exception and shouldn’t really be compared!) That’s no accident—the hall was designed by the celebrated architect Hiroshi Naito.
# By the way, the “Nerima-ku Makino Memorial Garden" I briefly dropped by in a previous column was also designed by Naito, as was Kochi Station.
The garden built inside the memorial hall isn’t your typical Japanese garden—it’s natural and unfussy, but effortlessly beautiful. The restaurant, with its terrace view of the waterfront section, makes for a surprisingly luxe experience, and at very reasonable prices.
Is this really a botanical garden?
No, really, it IS a botanical garden. The reason I’m calling it “No.1” isn’t just the architecture. What’s most essential—yet often overlooked—in any garden is how well the exhibits are guided, explained, and curated for visitors.
Entering through the main gate, the first thing that caught my eye was the collection of native Kochi plants. What blew me away were the sheer number of nameplates. There’s even “In Bloom” signage to highlight what’s flowering, and for key species, there are thorough info boards. There’s a ‘hands-on’ area, and there are special exhibitions linked to the “Ranman” TV show.
The grounds are vast and hilly, yet plants are densely and thoughtfully planted, carefully looked after, and displayed so visitors can truly understand them. All you can do is marvel at the effort.
As a succulent LOVER, the greenhouse is a must-visit. Makino’s greenhouse is right by the south entrance and was renovated in 2010; it’s one of the newest, on par with Shinjuku Gyoen. As you can see in the photos, the greenhouse is insanely tall—with elevated pathways that make for a ‘jungle adventure’ feel. Size-wise, it’s maybe a bit larger than Shinjuku Gyoen; budget about 30–40 minutes if you want to take your time.
From the must-haves to the “wait, that’s not so common!” surprises—every botanical garden has new treasures to discover.
This is actually not in the greenhouse but outdoors in the “Touch and Feel” area. Fuzzy-leafed plants really ARE irresistible to pet.
Near the greenhouse—there’s an Agave kerchovei planted directly outside, visible as you approach.
In the “arid zone” near the greenhouse entrance: They’re giant! You’ll see towering specimens of Adenia globosa and Euphorbia ‘White Ghost’. I’d never seen them grown so big before.
At their feet, you’ll find compact succulents. These classics are exactly the types you want to see well cultivated in a botanical garden.
The cacti selections are fewer, but their impressive size makes up for it.
There are also lots of Sansevieria varieties on display—some I’d never seen before!
The greenhouse is about 80% orchids and tropical plants, with fewer succulents—but in the tropical section, you’ll spot air plants like Tillandsia, plenty of Vriesea, and other tank bromeliads like Neoregalia popping up everywhere.
The Makino Botanical Garden sits atop Godaisan, just outside central Kochi City. Reaching it means driving up a pretty serious mountain road—so your best bets are car or bus. There are 200 free parking spaces, and the bus ride is 600 yen with one departure per hour. Entrance is 730 yen for adults; high schoolers and younger are free.
Originally, I’d planned to visit right at opening (9:00AM) and move on to my next stop after an hour or so—yet before I knew it, lunch had come and gone (I spent nearly 4 hours!), and I ended up skipping my next destination entirely. I took so many photos and there’s even more I want to share—so I’ll save the rest for “Kochi Edition, Part 2” next time.
One of the greatest things about botanical gardens is how dramatically they change with the seasons. With this many plants and such a range of environments, that’s especially true here. I definitely hope to come back in another season and see what it’s like all over again!
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