Manabe Garden
Manabe Garden is a 2.5-hectare botanical garden located in Obihiro, Hokkaido, renowned for its authentic conifer-focused landscape design. Established in 1966 by nurseryman Manabe Kiyoshi, the garden was created as both a commercial nursery and a showcase for Western-style gardening techniques adapted to Hokkaido's harsh continental climate. The site gained wider recognition when it served as a filming location for the popular Japanese television drama series, attracting visitors interested in both horticulture and popular culture.
The garden's significance lies in its pioneering approach to cultivating non-native conifers and perennials in Hokkaido's extreme temperature conditions, where winters can drop below -20°C. Manabe's vision was to demonstrate that European and North American garden styles could thrive in northern Japan through careful plant selection and microclimate management. The landscape features distinct seasonal displays, with conifer collections providing year-round structure, spring bulbs and early perennials, summer flowering borders, and dramatic autumn foliage that draws photographers and garden enthusiasts.
Visitors can explore winding paths through themed garden rooms, each showcasing different plant combinations and design principles. The garden maintains a naturalistic aesthetic with informal plantings that contrast with Japan's more formal traditional gardens. A small café on the premises serves light refreshments and allows guests to rest while enjoying views across the cultivated landscape. The garden shop sells plants, seeds, and gardening supplies, many propagated from specimens growing in the garden itself.
Manabe Garden is located approximately 20 kilometers southwest of central Obihiro. Visitors traveling by car can reach the site in roughly 30 minutes via Route 236. Public transportation options are limited, making rental cars or taxis the most practical choices for independent travelers. The nearest train station is Obihiro Station on the JR Hokkaido network. Admission fees apply, with reduced rates available for children and groups.
