Handayama Botanical Garden

Handayama Botanical Garden is a large garden sprawling across hillsides above Okayama, housing 150,000 plants representing about 3,200 species. Paths guide visitors through the terrain with views of the city below.

The site was first developed in 1953 by the Okayama Waterworks as a garden and later reopened in 1964 under its current name. This reorganization transformed it into a publicly accessible botanical garden.

The garden displays Japanese landscape design principles with an emphasis on native plant species like camellias and maples, showing visitors how traditional aesthetics and botanical specimens work together.

The garden is located 600 meters from Hokain Station on the Tsuyama line and is easily accessible from there. It is open daily except Tuesdays, with an entrance fee required.

Near the top of the garden stands the Ipponmatsu Kofun, an ancient burial mound that brings archaeological history directly into the botanical setting. This mixing of archaeological and botanical elements is unusual for a garden.

Location: Kita-ku

Inception: 1964

Website: http://okayama-park.or.jp/facility/handayama

GPS coordinates: 34.69297,133.93094

Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:43