Translation guide
A place where plants are grown and displayed for scientific, educational, or aesthetic purposes. In Japanese, the most common term is 植物園, but other expressions exist depending on context.
植物園
botanical garden
A garden where a wide variety of plants are cultivated for study and public enjoyment.
The standard term for a botanical garden. Used for both large public gardens and smaller institutional ones.
週末に植物園に行きました。
I went to the botanical garden on the weekend.
この植物園には珍しい花がたくさんあります。
This botanical garden has many rare flowers.
A loanword from English, often used in names of commercial or trendy gardens, or to give an international feel.
あのボタニカルガーデンはカフェもおしゃれだよ。
That botanical garden has a stylish café too.
A garden specifically for herbs or medicinal plants, often part of a larger botanical garden.
A garden dedicated to medicinal herbs. Common in temple grounds or traditional medicine contexts.
寺の裏に薬草園があります。
There is a medicinal herb garden behind the temple.
A garden focused on culinary or aromatic herbs. Often found in tourist farms or parks.
ハーブ園でラベンダーを摘みました。
I picked lavender at the herb garden.
A botanical garden attached to a university or research institution, often with a focus on conservation or study.
Specifically a university botanical garden. Used in official names.
京都大学植物園は歴史があります。
The Kyoto University Botanical Garden has a long history.
An affiliated botanical garden, often part of a university or research institute.
この附属植物園は研究用です。
This affiliated botanical garden is for research.
植物園 (botanical garden) focuses on plant collections and scientific labeling. 公園 (park) is a general public green space. 庭園 (landscape garden) emphasizes aesthetic design, often traditional Japanese gardens.