Kyoto Botanical Gardens

Opened in 1924, Kyoto Botanical Gardens holds the distinction of being Japan's oldest public botanical garden, quietly maturing over a century into one of the city's most rewarding green escapes. Spread across Sakyo ward, the grounds cultivate around 12,000 kinds of plants, from towering specimen trees that predate living memory to one of the country's largest display conservatories. Spring draws visitors for the blossoms, and autumn transforms the canopy into a tapestry of amber and crimson: two seasons for which the gardens are particularly celebrated.

When to go

The gardens open daily at 9 and close at 5, so an early-morning arrival rewards you with the freshest light and the quietest paths. Spring and autumn are the headline seasons, though the conservatory offers year-round interest whatever the weather brings.

“Lovely.”— Tyler Grandberry, Google review