Koishikawa Botanical Gardens
Off the beaten track for tourists, the Koishikawa Botanical Gardens is a treat for garden enthusiasts. Established in 1684 by the Tokugawa Shogunate as a medicinal herb garden, it is the oldest botanical garden in Japan. Today it contains over 4,000 species of plants, including rare varieties from around the world. Of note are grafts from Newton’s apple tree and Mendel’s grapevine.
Koishikawa Botanical Gardens
There is also a Gingko biloba tree which was bred by Sakugoro Hirase in his groundbreaking 1896 research discovering plant egg fertilization by spermatozoa, and a small grove of Metasequoia glyptostroboides from the first seeds found in China in 1944 of a species thought to be extinct.
小石川植物園
Despite the formidable profile of plants, the park is laid out to be enjoyed by people of all ages. Many areas are wheelchair and stroller accessible, though there are a few stone paths on slopes. The cherry tree grove is especially popular for flower viewing parties in the spring. The bathrooms are wheelchair accessible, and there are coin lockers near the entrance for stowing items you do not want to carry. Consider a bringing a bento lunch to enjoy under the trees.
Koishikawa Botanical Gardens
Koishikawa Botanical Park is open from 9 am to 4:30 pm, except Mondays. If Monday is a national holiday, it will be open then and closed the following Tuesday. Entrance fees are 330 yen for anyone over 13 years old, and 110 yen for those 6 to 12 years old. The park is a 10 minute walk from the Hakusan Station of the Mita Subway line. For more information: http://www.bg.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/koishikawa/eng/
photos by:
veroyama &
Norio.NAKAYAMA,
kanegen
