The Kyoto Botanical Garden, opened in 1924 in the north of the city beside the Kamo River, is the oldest public botanical garden in Japan and one of the largest, holding about twelve thousand species across twenty-four hectares. Sections cover Japanese native plants, a long avenue of cherry trees, a herb garden, a bamboo collection, and a rose garden; the central greenhouse complex — Japan's largest — focuses on tropical and subtropical species and on rare orchids.
The garden is at its most spectacular in cherry season (early April) and chrysanthemum exhibition season (early November), but is rewarding all year. Entry is inexpensive and the surrounding shaded lawns are a favourite local picnic spot in summer. The Kyoto Concert Hall is next door if you want to combine the visit with an evening concert.