Kaori no Sato Herb Garden is a beautiful garden in Takinoue, Hokkaido, where approximately 300 varieties of herbs and flowers grow across a spacious 4-hectare site. From May through October, the garden changes with the seasons, offering visitors the chance to enjoy a constantly evolving display of fragrant herbs and colorful flowers.
Surrounded by the natural beauty of northern Hokkaido, the garden is an especially appealing destination for people who love flowers, herbs, and peaceful outdoor spaces. Each season brings a different combination of plants, making repeat visits rewarding as well.
Takinoue is known for producing more mint than anywhere else in Japan. The highlight of the garden is therefore its Mint Garden, where visitors can experience the fragrances of approximately 80 varieties of mint from June through September.
Walking among so many different types of mint creates an unusual sensory experience, with the fresh aromas changing as you explore the garden. It is a wonderful way to appreciate herbs not only through their appearance but also through their distinctive fragrances.
At the Fragrance House, visitors can relax with herbal tea and light meals prepared using herbs. The facility also offers hands-on herb craft activities, including making handmade soap.
Another facility, the Herb Workshop Experience Center “Q Palace,” offers additional creative activities such as making wreaths, crafting herb soap, and dyeing fabric with natural plant materials.
These workshops provide an enjoyable way to take home something made with your own hands while learning more about the practical uses of herbs.
The garden’s appearance changes dramatically throughout the growing season. May brings Ezo-yama cherry blossoms, muscari, tulips, daffodils, and chives, while June features Japanese shrub roses, lupines, and various types of thyme.
In July, the garden is filled with herbs such as yarrow, together with lavender, lamb’s ear, delphiniums, and oregano. August is the season for mint, chamomile, monarda, and alliums, while September brings hops, globe amaranth, roses, and Annabelle hydrangeas.
By October, the garden takes on an autumn character with silver poplar willow, luteus, and Japanese silver grass, offering a final display before the garden’s seasonal period comes to an end.
Kaori no Sato Herb Garden combines beautiful flowers, fragrant herbs, and hands-on experiences in a peaceful natural setting. Visitors can simply stroll through the gardens and enjoy the changing scenery, or make their visit more interactive with herb crafts, tea, and other activities.
For nature lovers and anyone interested in flowers and herbs, the garden offers a refreshing sensory experience. The fragrances, colors, sounds, and seasonal changes create an atmosphere in which visitors can slow down, reconnect with nature, and enjoy a relaxing break in the countryside of Hokkaido.
Because different flowers and herbs reach their peak at different times, the best experience depends on the season you visit. From the colorful blooms of spring and the lavender of summer to the fragrant mint garden and autumn grasses, each period offers its own character.
With its extensive collection of plants and variety of practical workshops, Kaori no Sato Herb Garden is a delightful destination for travelers looking for a peaceful and immersive experience among the flowers and herbs of Hokkaido.
9:00-16:30
Every Tuesday
Open May 1 - October 31
From JR Kamikawa Station, take the intercity bus bound for Monbetsu and get off at Takigami stop (approx. 70 min.).
Approximately 120 minutes by car from Asahikawa