Uji City Botanical Park (宇治市植物公園) is a spot where a variety of flowers bloom throughout the year. In fact, it is a hidden gem of cherry and plum blossoms that is not far from Kyoto’s city center. In early summer, you can also visit the park at night to see many fireflies dancing! You will also find Japan’s biggest three-dimensional flower bed here!
About Uji City Botanical Park
The 10-hectare wide Uji City Botanical Park was opened relatively recently in 1996. Located on a hill, you can overlook Uji’s cityscape. On its vast land, over 1,450 types of vegetations are planted, with about 650 types of tropical and subtropical plants in the greenhouse. Endangered and threatened species can also be found there.
The most eye-catchy spot has to be the 18-meter-tall and 62-meter-wide, three-dimensional flower bed at the front of the park. The flower bed that was named The Flower and Water Tapestry (花と水のタペストリー) is the biggest three-dimensional flower bed in Japan. The pattern formed by 3,675 planters changes each season as well.
If you are a Japanese history buff, visit Uji City Botanical Park for the plants that appear in the Tale of Genji (源氏物語). Scan the QR code on the signboard for an explanation of the plant on your smartphone.
As you can fully explore Uji City Botanical Park in 1.5 to 2 hours, it can be added to a one-day Uji itinerary. For a more relaxing visit, you can bring some food and enjoy it at one of the rest areas scattered in the park and be refreshed in nature.
Tip: Prams and wheelchairs can be rented for free.
The Four Seasons at Uji City Botanical Park
The park is divided into three zones: spring, summer, and autumn. Various plant exhibitions and weeping cherry blossom illumination are held each year.
Uji City Botanical Park’s foliage usually start changing its color in early November, with the autumn color the most vivid from mid to late November. The Fall Foliage festival is held when the colors peak.
In summer, a Lotus Viewing Party (観蓮会) is held at Ogura Pond (巨椋池), where about 80 types of lotus are found. Moreover, even a firefly viewing session (蛍ナイター/ホタル撮影会) is on from late May to early June!
Tips:
☛ The best lotus viewing time is from the early morning to around 10 am. The best photography time is between 7 and 8 am.
☛ Because various types of lotuses are planted, the lotus season at Uji City Botanical Park lasts for a month.
☛ The Lotus Viewing Party starts at 7 am. In 2024, the party was held from July 13 to 15.
In 2024, Uji City Botanical Park autumn foliage festival was held from November 11 to 26.
Refer to Uji City Botanical Park’s Website for future events. You can use your browser’s translation function to read.
The Plum Blossoms at Uji City Botanical Park
The plum blossoms can be found in the Spring Zone (春のゾーン) on the south. Just note that the plums planted here and there, instead of gathering together. But the great thing is the yellow rapes blossoms will bloom underneath the red and white plums, making the view much more colorful to enjoy. As Uji City Botanical Park is a hill so you can overlook Uji’s rural landscape spreading beyond the plum blossoms below you.
The plum blossom season at Uji City Botanical Park starts in early February with the early bloomers. When the season peaks, the Kawazu cherry blossom usually bloom at the same time. So, if you want to see both plum and cherry blossom at the same time, venture your way out of Kyoto’s city center and visit Uji!
Uji City Botanical Park’s Opening Hours and Access Information
- Uji City Botanical Park is open from 9 am to 5 pm from Tuesday to Sunday.
- The last admission is at 4 pm.
- If Monday is a public holiday, the park is closed the next business day.
- The park is closed from December 28 to January 4.
- The admission fee is
- 600 yen for adults
- 300 yen for children
- The park is a 25-minute walk from JR Shinda Station (新田駅).
- You can also take a bus from JR or Keihan’s Uji Station (宇治駅) or Kintetsu’s Ōkubo Station (大久保駅) and get off at Shokubutsu Kōen (植物公園).
- Use one of Japan’s Transport Apps to plan your visit.
Discover Other Plum Blossom Spots in Kyoto
Regardless of its overtourism problem, Kyoto remains undoubtedly Japan’s most popular tourist destination. If you plan to visit Kyoto in early spring, there are several spots to add to your itinerary to enjoy the seasonal flower: plum blossoms! While the view created by the plum flowers may be less awe-inspiring than the voluminous cherry blossoms, the elegant fragrance will make your visit more pleasant.
For more information, refer to our article on The Plum Blossom Spots in Kyoto!
