Mizunomori Water Botanical Garden

Mizunomori Water Botanical Garden is a botanical garden in Kusatsu with three large lakes and more than 150 species of water plants across its grounds. The lakes form the foundation for an extensive collection of water lilies and other aquatic species that flow through the garden.

The garden was founded in 1996 near Lake Biwa and grew into a center for aquatic plant preservation and study in Shiga Prefecture. This focus on water plant cultivation made it an important research location in the region.

The name Mizunomori means water forest, showing how Japanese garden design connects natural water elements with plant cultivation. You can see this harmony in how the water and vegetation flow together throughout the space.

You can reach the garden by bus from the west exit of Kusatsu Station on the JR Biwako Line, with a journey of about 25 minutes. The garden is open between 9 and 17 o'clock, so plan to arrive with enough time before closing.

The garden maintains dedicated areas for lotus growing and sits near the main lotus producers of the Shiga region. This proximity to established growers makes it a key place for preserving this traditional plant variety.

Location: Kusatsu

Official opening: 1996

Website: https://seibu-la.co.jp/mizunomori

GPS coordinates: 35.07370,135.94041

Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:41