Located in Hokkaido’s Obihiro city is Manabe Garden, the site of the first Conifer garden in Japan. Among its collection includes rare plants, many of which were established even before Hokkaido’s modernisation process which started even before the beginning of the Meiji Period (1868-1912).

Manabe Garden

Manabe Garden (真鍋庭園, Manabe-teien) is a garden that consists primarily of trees, covering an area of 80,000 m² (19.77 acres). The garden actually consists of several smaller gardens, including a Japanese garden centred on a pond, a Western-inspired garden and several forested areas. In fact, there are several thousand varieties of plants and trees, some of which were planted before the end of the Edo Period and the forced modernisation of Hokkaido in the Meiji Era. 

While it is not the focus of the garden, there are also many flowering plants among the trees, especially in the summer. Moss phlox, hydrangeas and Japanese apricots are just some of the flowers in bloom during their respective periods.

The garden’s own website (in Japanese) describes reactions to this garden as often comparing it to a fairy tale. The garden is centred around an older house-like building, which now hosts a cafe and a gift shop. 

The garden is also a nursery, and plants throughout the garden can be purchased at this building as well. 

Here is a video of a stroll through the garden:

Getting there and entry info

From Obihiro’s main train station, you can take two buses from the bus terminal just out front: buses #1 and #2. These both run the same route (the Junkan loop line). If you take #1, it will take approximately 30 minutes. Bus #2 takes approximately 15 minutes. Each bus runs every 30 minutes. The bus stop is “Nishi 4-jo 39-chome”. Alternatively, you could take the #60 Hiroo Line, get off at “Nishi 5-jo 34-chome” and walk the rest of the way. 

The garden is open from late April to early November. The exact dates vary depending on the year and the weather. Typically, the garden opens at 8:30 and closes around 17:3,0 with last entry at 17:00. However, October and November usually have shortened hours (approximately 16:30 and 16:00 for last entry in October and 15:30 and 15:00, respectively in November). 

Entry to the garden is ¥1,000 for adults and ¥500 for children. Alternatively you can purchase a garden pass from the tourist information centre in Obihiro station that will give you access to three or more gardens in and near Obihiro; the price depends on how many gardens you want to access with the pass.

Other gardens including in the pass include nearby Shichiku Garden, Tokachi Hills, and Tokachinuppuku Garden.

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