What other travelers are saying about Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden
It does have some lovely plants and there are indeed the monkeys in the onsen. But it feels like all the animals just don’t have the best of enclosures. I hope they’re ok. But heck there is a fish with just a bubbler in a glass tank.
It makes you sad for them. We wouldn’t come back again honestly. It has three stars because the greenhouse is lovely and the plants show a good amount of care to them.
Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden is open daily from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM (April to October) and 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM (November to March). Adult admission is 300 yen, children under 12 are free, and students pay reduced rates. The garden is closed on December 29-January 1.
Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden features over 300 tropical plant species, famous hot spring bathing monkeys (Japanese macaques), koi fish ponds, and seasonal flower displays. The heated greenhouse maintains tropical temperatures year-round, making it a popular winter attraction in Hokkaido.
Take Hakodate City Tram Line 2 from Hakodate Station to Yunokawa Onsen terminal (about 30 minutes), then walk 15 minutes to the botanical garden. Alternatively, take a bus or taxi directly from downtown Hakodate. The garden is located in the Yunokawa Onsen hot spring district.
Winter months (December to March) are most popular for seeing the famous bathing monkeys in hot springs at Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden. Spring and summer offer beautiful outdoor gardens and full plant displays, while the heated greenhouse provides tropical warmth year-round regardless of Hokkaido's cold climate.
Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden hosts seasonal flower exhibitions, illumination events during winter months, and special viewing times for the hot spring monkeys. The garden also features educational programs about tropical plants and offers photography opportunities with the bathing Japanese macaques, especially popular during Hokkaido's snowy season.
A botanical garden with a separate area for Japanese Snow Monkeys (aka macaques). The 300 yen fee is admission for both attractions.
It wasn’t cold enough for the monkeys to enjoy the pool. You can buy packaged snacks for them. Who doesn’t love snacks as many of them were enthusiastic about them.
At the botanical garden, there were a variety of plants, large insects, lizards and koi fishes in a pond.
Nice place. It's funny being from Brazil and see a lot of Brazilian trees and flowers there. The monkeys in the hot spring are nice. I thought there were in the wild but it turns out they're in a restricted site. Oh!and there is a foot bath near the entrance. Really nice.
The monkeys are soooo cute 🐒😊 You can buy food to feed them when you get your entry ticket, which makes it even more fun! They have adult and student tickets, and parking is super easy too and FREE!
Very small place. The monkeys at the entrance section were cute but exhausted from the heat … maybe they’re more active in the winter. If you are seeing both the monkeys and botanical gardens you can do it all in about 20-25 minutes. BUT if you have kids, you should bring their bathing suits because there’s a cool place for all of them to play in the water next to the ocean. If you take them there then it would be five stars.
