5 best botanical gardens and greenhouses in Tokyo

Tokyo, the centre of Japan, has an image of many buildings. But in reality, there is also a lot of natural greenery. Parks and gardens are typical, but greenhouses and botanical gardens are also very popular. Some of these are also used as research centres in Japan and are open to the public for a fee or free of charge. In this article, we present some of the best botanical and tropical gardens you can visit in Tokyo. If you are planning a visit to these beautiful botanical and tropical gardens in Tokyo, make sure to check out the options for 3-star hotels in Tokyo. These are great for tourists aiming for a comfortable and affordable stay during their visit. With numerous hotel options available, make your choice easier by considering considering tophotels.com where you can browse and compare a wide range of Tokyo hotels depending on your preferences. Among the many options, you might also enjoy staying at the Shibuya Excel Hotel, which not only offers a splendid view of the city's skyline but is also conveniently located near several of the city's most famous botanical gardens.

1. Institute for Nature Study

The Institute for Nature Study, attached to the National Museum of Nature and Science, is a large botanical garden that you can visit less than a 9-minute walk from the east exit of JR Meguro station. The 20-hectare garden is home to 1,473 species of plants, 2,130 species of insects and 130 species of birds. The garden serves as a research centre for living beings and plants, and various studies are still in progress. For researchers, this botanical garden, where many animals and plants come together, can be considered a precious place. From the point of view of nature conservation, the maximum number of people allowed in the garden is 300. So you can enjoy nature with a small crowd.

2. Koishikawa Botanical Garden

Just a 15-minute walk from Myogadani station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi line. Koishikawa Botanical Garden is a botanical garden attached to the University of Tokyo, known as one of Japan's most prestigious universities. This botanical garden plays an important role as a field for various studies.

Koishikawa Garden (Photo by Mao Goto)

The most famous plant in the Koishikawa Botanical Garden is Newton's apple tree. It's a famous story that Newton saw an apple fall from an apple tree, which enabled him to discover the law of universal gravitation. But this apple tree can also be seen at the Koishikawa Botanical Garden. The apple tree near Newton's birthplace has been grafted and these grafts are now carefully cultivated in research facilities around the world, including Sweden, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan.

The Koishikawa Botanical Garden is located near Tokyo Dome, so it's a good idea to stop off after enjoying your visit to Tokyo Dome City, home to a theme park and shopping centre!

3. Jindai Botanical Gardens

The Jindai Botanical Gardens is a botanical park located in the town of Chofu, Tokyo, and covers an area of around 490,000 square metres. Around 4,800 types of plant and 100,000 trees are currently planted. Since its renewal five years ago, it has been collecting and displaying rare flowers, adding to the charm of the Jindai Botanical Gardens. As far as flowers are concerned, you can see a variety of beautiful blooms such as rose gardens, azalea gardens, plum gardens and so on. These gardens attract many visitors every year during the best season. In particular, their rose garden has a large fountain in the centre and is a truly photogenic spot. The Rose Festival takes place every spring, so if you're a rose lover, it's a good time to visit. The greenhouse, which stands in front of the rose garden, displays around 650 different tropical plants. You can see tropical flowers, tropical water lilies, begonias, orchids and more all year round, whatever the season.

4. Yumenoshima Tropical Greenhouse Dome

Yumenoshima Tropical Greenhouse Dome is located in the Koto district of Tokyo. This tropical botanical garden uses the thermal energy generated by a nearby cleaning plant to heat the entire greenhouse, the air conditioning and the building's hot water supply. A large greenhouse is modelled on an environment with high humidity and temperature throughout the year. You can freely enjoy plants that you wouldn't be able to see unless you went to the tropics.

• 

  Inside the Yumenoshima tropical greenhouse garden... Photo by Mao Goto

• 

After enjoying the garden, why not drop by a café adjoining the greenhouse? You can enjoy a variety of meals such as curry pilaf, loco moco and ice cream overlooking the tropical botanical garden. There's also a gift shop, which sells limited items, so be sure to check them out.

Yumenoshima Tropical Greenhouse Dome distributes a free audio guide app, which is available in Japanese and English. Make sure you download it before you visit the tropical garden. It should make your visit even more wonderful!

5. Adachi Living Things Park

The Adachi Organic Garden is an organic garden located in Adachi Ward, Tokyo, and exhibits various creatures and plants. A large goldfish aquarium welcomes you on the first floor, then you can see living creatures such as tropical fish and reptiles. The biggest attraction of this organic garden is the large greenhouse, where many different kinds of butterflies welcome you. You can see beautiful butterflies dancing, surrounded by lots of green plants.

On the first floor, there is also an outdoor area where you can interact with small animals such as guinea pigs and see kangaroos and wallabies.

A botanical garden is not just for displaying various plants, but many also try to entertain visitors. Some botanical gardens often hold various events each season or month, so be sure to check their official website for upcoming events. I hope this article helps you enjoy the green oasis while you're in Tokyo.

Have a great trip!