Herb garden travel diary Katsunuma Garden — Attraction in Koshu

I visited the garden on the 11th October which was a warm and sunny day.

To be honest I initially didn’t have high expectations as the garden looked to be quite small on googlemaps, however I absolutely loved what they’ve packed into it ! The garden looked stunning and I highly recommend it. If I’m ever back in the area I will definitely visit again.

They had a very colourful display of cosmos, kochia, roses, various herbs, and many other flowers. There is a beautiful pond filled with Koi, plus lots of paths throughout the garden to get different views. They’ve got signs in many places telling you the best places to take a photo, and they really do help ! At this time of year they also had a Halloween display set up at the entrance.

I saw a wide age range of people there, many looked to be locals (people with young kids) so it’s presumably popular. That said, the garden didn’t at any point feel too busy, which has sometimes spoiled the experience when I’ve visited other gardens.

There is a small cafe selling kakigori, ice cream etc - you buy a ticket from a machine, however staff are more than willing to help you. There is a small plant shop, a wine shop, and a larger shop selling various herb and other related items. You can try various things there and I ended up buying some peach tea after having been given a sample. Cold peach tea was honestly perfect on such a hot day !

Thanks also to the staff in the larger shop who when I explained I needed a taxi to get to the train station were more than happy to order one for me. Extremely helpful and perfect customer service !

Key points Cost - it’s free to enter ! How to get there - I assume driving is probably the easiest, however as I don’t drive, I walked from Katsunuma Budou no Oka where I’d had lunch. I wouldn’t recommend that route though as there is not a lot of room in places between cars and pedestrians. In addition it is a fair distance to walk. There is an infrequent bus you can use which I believe stops not too far from the garden (ask at a tourist information office for details and a timetable) or simply get a taxi from Yamanashishi station or...

I recently visited a charming herb garden and was pleasantly surprised to find that there was no entrance fee, which is quite rare in many places across Japan. The garden is impeccably maintained, showcasing a stunning variety of herbs and flowers. The lavender was in full bloom, creating a beautiful sea of purple, while the roses are expected to bloom in October, promising another wave of color in the coming weeks.

Additionally, all of the staff members were incredibly friendly and welcoming, enhancing the overall experience. If you have the time, this lovely garden is definitely...

Very nice garden that grows a variety of herbs and fruits like blueberries. There's a small pond with Japanese koi fishes as well as a very nice cafe with inside and outside terrace seating. Staff is also very welcoming. There are a few small shops where you can buy cosmetics, soaps and herbs / plants. It's a nice place...