30th July 2012: Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands

Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands is located in Sengokuhara, Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, and is Japan’s first botanical garden dedicated to wetland plants. It was established in 1976 with the aim of preserving and promoting awareness of wetland environments. The garden features approximately 1,700 species of plants that thrive in wetlands, rivers, and lakes, blooming beautifully throughout the four seasons.

The garden is divided into eight distinct zones, allowing visitors to experience the ecological transitions from lowlands to alpine areas, and from early-stage wetlands to more developed ones. Seasonal flowers such as Asian skunk cabbage (Mizubashō), dogtooth violet (Katakuri), great burnet (Waremokō), gentian (Ezorindō), daylily (Nikkōkisuge), and primrose (Sakurasō) can be enjoyed throughout the year.

The walking trail within the garden takes about an hour and a half to complete at a leisurely pace, especially if you stop to take photographs along the way. Strolling along wooden paths and through wetland areas, I felt deeply refreshed by the surrounding nature. Right next to the garden is a restaurant called Restaurant35, where I was able to relax and enjoy lunch after the walk.

Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands is a valuable place where visitors can learn about plant diversity and wetland ecosystems while being immersed in nature. Seasonal exhibitions and workshops are also held, offering new discoveries with each visit. It is truly a healing spot worth visiting during your trip to Hakone.