Highlights of the Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden
Tomitaro Makino’s Achievements and the Plant Exhibition
Image: 663highland / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped, resized, and sharpened)The Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden honors the achievements of Tomitaro Makino, a botanist and plant taxonomist from Kochi. Visitors can explore seasonal plants and exhibitions throughout the garden, whose landscape makes use of the undulating terrain of Mount Godai. By moving between exhibitions on Makino’s life and research and garden areas where living plants can be observed, visitors can deepen their understanding of both the man and the plants he studied.
Greenhouse
Image: User:chocopeanut / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain, cropped, resized, and sharpened)The greenhouse offers year-round views of tropical plants collected from Japan and abroad, including vividly colored tropical flowering trees and tropical fruit trees.
Godaisan Park
Godaisan Park spreads out around the botanical garden, and from its observatory you can look out over Kochi City and toward Urado Bay. Together with nearby Chikurinji Temple, it can be included in a walk around the Godaisan area. Rather than ending your visit inside the garden, if you have enough time, walk to the viewpoints or Chikurinji Temple to enjoy plants, a temple, and views of the city in a single outing.
Basic Information about the Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden
The information below was checked against official sources on September 19, 2026. Please also check the latest information on the official website when planning your trip.
- 🔗 Official Website
- Check opening hours, closure days, admission fees, and current events.
ご利用案内のページです。高知県立牧野植物園は高知県が生んだ植物学者・牧野富太郎博士の業績を顕彰する施設です。www.makino.or.jp
- 📍 Address
- Godaisan 4200-6, Kochi, Kochi Prefecture
- 🕒 Opening Hours
- Open from 9:00 to 17:00, with last admission at 16:30.
- 🚫 Closure Days
- Closed for the New Year holidays from 12 27 to 1 1 and on maintenance closure days. Announced maintenance closure dates are 9 28, 10 26, and 11 30 in 2026; and 1 25, 5 26, 6 30, 7 28, 8 25, 9 29, 10 27, and 11 24 in 2027.
- 💶 Admission Fees
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- General admission 850 yen
- High school students and younger Free
- Groups of 20 or more 750 yen
- Annual pass 2,500 yen
⚠️ During the Orchid Exhibition from 2 6 to 28, 2027, admission changes to 1,700 yen for general visitors and 1,500 yen for groups of 20 or more.
- ⏱️ Suggested Visit Duration
- Allow approximately 2 to 3 hours to visit the exhibition hall, greenhouse, and main outdoor garden areas.⚠️ The duration varies depending on how thoroughly you explore the exhibition hall, greenhouse, and outdoor plants. If you also visit Godaisan Park or Chikurinji Temple, allow additional time for travel and exploring.
Access to the Kochi Prefectural Makino Botanical Garden
MY Yu Bus
From Kōchi Tabi Hiroba at the south exit of JR Kōchi Station, take the MY Yu bus for about 30 minutes and get off at “in front of the main gate of Makino Botanical Garden.” The official website recommends the MY Yu bus as public transportation from JR Kōchi Station to the botanical garden.
By car
Use Mount Godai, Makino Botanical Garden, and Chikurin-ji as landmarks when driving. The free parking lot accommodates 225 regular cars and 6 buses.
The related guide “【高知】観光スポット・グルメ・交通・モデルコースを解説” is currently available only in Japanese.
