Okinawa Southeast Botanical Garden | Embark on a fairy-tale adventure in a verdant wonderland
📍Detailed Address: The Southeast Botanical Gardens are located in the southeastern area of Chatan Town in the central part of Okinawa's main island. The botanical garden is divided into a northern and a southern section. The content of this travelogue introduces the northern section—the 'Paradise' of plants, which, in addition to plants, also features birds, small animals, and a light show. The southern section is a pure botanical garden area.
🚉Transportation Strategy: It is recommended to charter a car or drive on your own in advance. The location of the botanical garden is relatively remote, and it is easy to take a taxi from the city, but there is a high possibility that you may not find a return ride (i.e., no taxi back to the city after leaving the garden). Chartering a car requires advance reservation.
🗓Itinerary Planning: We arranged a day to charter a car to visit the attractions around Chatan Town. The itinerary was: Ryukyu Village → Zanpa Cape → Lunch → Kadena Air Base → Southeast Botanical Garden.
🕙Business Hours: 9:30 to 22:00 (entry stops at 21:30).
🎫Ticket Price: Adults 70 yuan, Children 28 yuan.
⏳Play Time: 2~3 hours.
🌟Highlights:
Light show. From November to April each year, the lights turn on promptly at 17:00 every day. Trees, ponds, and buildings are all equipped with light strips and other facilities. When the lights are on, the park completely transforms into another scene. It's stunningly beautiful, like a fairy-tale world.
Free-roaming birds: The botanical garden's environment is one of harmonious coexistence between humans and animals. Cranes, geese, and ducks are all free-roaming, and can be seen everywhere in the park during your visit.
👍Most Recommended:
Small Animal Area: In the central area of the park, there are capybaras, land turtles, rabbits, and other small animals. Each type of animal has its own little garden, where visitors can feed and touch them from zero distance. There are vegetable packs for purchase by voluntary donation in the garden, with each bag containing several large leaves.
Aviary: This is an area for various rare bird species, also allowing zero-distance contact.
Shop: The entrance and exit of the park are at the same location, with a shop near the entrance. The shop sells souvenirs, drinks, and light meals.
📝Note tips: The feeding time allowed in the park is until 16:30 (rabbits, squirrel monkeys), 17:00 (capybaras). If you want to see everything, be sure to plan the order and timing well.
👎Least Recommended: The park's sightseeing car. There is a paid sightseeing car in the park, but it is recommended not to take it, as the area of the park is not super large, and walking is completely OK.
❤Recommended Reason: The Southeast Botanical Garden is Japan's first botanical garden and also one of Okinawa's heavyweight attractions. It can truly be said to be a destination suitable for all ages. Children can learn about the diversity of plants and feed small animals. Traveling together, you can easily take photos that capture the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature. It is recommended to enter the park at 16:00, so you can first see the small animals and the daytime scenery, and then enjoy the night scenery and light show as it gets dark after 17:00. In this way, you will experience both the daytime and nighttime views.