Hi Friends!
About a month ago now I shared a blog post of Where to Eat, Stay and Play in Osaka, Japan. In that post I shared about the Nagai Botanical Garden but we loved it so much I wanted to make sure I did a whole blog post sharing about our experience at Nagai Botanical Garden. I really feel like Osaka is one of those cities that know how to keep you on your toes — one minute you’re weaving through neon-lit streets in Dotonbori, the next you’re eating in takoyaki and laughter at a local market. But if you’re wanting a day that is just a bit a softer or quieter, I’ve got just the place: Nagai Botanical Garden! We went during the day and it was stunning but there was also a way to see the gardens after dark, during one of their Night Light Tours. Think things like lit up glowing trees, illuminated pathways, and a peaceful atmosphere that feels like you are a world away from the city — all without ever leaving Osaka!
All blog posts for this Osaka and Tokyo Japan Trip
Packing for a 14 Day Trip to Osaka and Tokyo Japan
Where to Eat, Stay and Play in Osaka, Japan
20 Tips to Know Before You Go to Japan
Spend a Day at Disney Sea in Japan
Where to Eat, Stay and Play in Tokyo, Japan
Spend a Day at Disneyland Tokyo
A Day Trip to Nara Park + Kyoto from Osaka, Japan
Where to Eat, Stay and Play at Disneyland Tokyo and Disney Sea
Spend a Day at Universal Studios Japan
Eat Ramen Around Japan with Dustin
Budget Breakdown of the entire 14 Day Japan Trip
The Nagai Botanical Gardens
We didn’t have the Nagai Botanical Gardens on our agenda to start the trip but we had seen it being advertised somewhere while we were there and so we made sure to spend some time visiting the Nagai Botanical Gardens and the Osaka Museum of Natural History. We realized that they were right next to each other which made it easy to visit both. The gardens were so beautifully maintained, with so many walking paths take you through so many colorful seasonal flowers, we saw SO many cherry blossoms! They also had a beautiful ponds and a small forest type area to walk through as well. We learned that there were over 24 hectares inside the gardens and that it was home to over 1,000 species of plants. We seriously loved our visit to the gardens and can’t recommend going enough! It felt like one of those rare spots when you are visiting a new place that not many people know about!
Osaka Museum of Natural History
When we were done walking through the gardens, we stopped into the Osaka Museum of Natural History and the nerd in me LOVED IT. There were tons of exhibits on everything from dinosaurs to local ecosystems which was fun to learn about being in a different country and how things work there. If you are into more science-y stuff I think this would be a cool stop for you as well. I also really liked their small store at the end of exploring, I got quite a few souvenirs from the shop! They had second hand science type books that I brought home and are now used as decor in our house. I love getting souvenirs like that to add to our house!
The Night Light Tour 🌙💡
We found out while we were there that during times of the year, especially during spring and fall, the gardens have a night illumination experience which turns the entire space into something that sounded like it was from a fairytale! I think if we would have known about this we might have planned out visit to be in the evening so we could have seen it! They have a ton of lights on for a full display, think LED installations, light tunnels, and themed sections that make the flowers and trees look like living light sculptures. I think that would be so cool to visit!
What to Know Before You Go:
Location: Nagai Botanical Garden (inside Nagai Park)
Access: Easy! It is really just a short walk from Nagai Station on the JR Hanwa Line or Osaka Metro Midosuji Line.
Night Light Schedule: Typically runs during special seasons — like the spring cherry blossom festival or autumn foliage season. Whenever you are going, it would be best to check the official website or if you are in the area, check local event listings for exact dates and times.
Tickets: For us to get into the Nagai Botanical Garden and the Osaka Museum of Natural History was about $6 total for the both of us to get in.
Anyways, regardless of if you’re traveling solo, planning a romantic evening with someone special, or just want to see a different side of Osaka, the Nagai Botanical Garden’s were really cool to see! It’s quiet, it’s beautiful, and it offers that rare blend of art and nature that makes you slow down and actually take it all in. Being in the city with all of the hustle and bustle, it was nice to spend a morning relaxing in the stunning botanical gardens. glowing softly under a sky full of stars. So if you’re building your Osaka itinerary, don’t just plan for the food and the bright lights — I would recommend saving some time for this little piece of magic. If you end up visiting the gardens I would love to hear about it. If you have any questions you can comment below or send me an email at tarynintotravel@gmail.com and I will get back to you asap!
Much Love,
Emma
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