Makino Botanical Garden — Flora of Shikoku

The Makino Botanical Garden, perched on a hillside in western Kochi, is dedicated to Tomitaro Makino (1862–1957), the 'father of Japanese botany' who named over 1,500 plant species and spent his life cataloging Japan's flora. The 8-hectare garden contains over 3,000 species arranged in thematic sections: a wild meadow, a bamboo grove, a medicinal herb garden, an alpine rockery, and a traditional Tosa garden with ponds and stone lanterns.

The garden's design is naturalistic rather than formal — plants are allowed to intermingle and seed freely, creating a sense of walking through the Shikoku mountains. The greenhouse conservatory showcases tropical and subtropical species, including many that Makino collected personally. Spring brings cherry blossoms and azaleas; autumn delivers camellias and maple foliage. The garden also offers panoramic views over Kochi City and the Tosa Bay.