"Nikko Botanical Garden" is a nickname, but the official name is ""Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo
"Nikko Botanical Garden. It was opened near the Toshogu Shrine in 1902, but was moved to today's place in 1911. Tokyo University established it for the purpose of research and education.

Natural environment is rich in Nikko. For example, there are altitude of over 2000m mountains in Nikko such as Mt. Nantai, Mt. Nyohou, Mt. Shirane and so on. Also, there are variety sizes of lakes and ponds such as Lake Chuzenj. Moreover, there are marshlands such as Senjogahara Plateau and Odashirogahara Plateau. In addition to that, there are streams and waterfalls. That natural environment causes to grow rich alpine plants and marsh plants. There are more than 1500 kinds of plants grow in the garden, and the alpine plants and mountainous plants are researched in the institution.

It is 104,490 square meters, and about 2200 plants grow in that area.

Many of trees in the garden were gathered from the whole country. These trees are harmonized well with geographical feature, which as ups and downs. It looks like a natural forest.

Especially, kinds of maple, cherry and azalea are frequently seen. There are 24 kinds of maple in Japan and 22 of these grow in this garden. Also, there are 10 kinds of wild cherry trees, and are about 80 kinds of azalea.

Most of the plants are seen everywhere of the garden, but a few kinds were grown in a garden of marsh plant, and a garden of Alpine plant. These kinds need a special condition to grow.

The garden of alpine plant is worth seeing. An artificial mountain is created by lava in order to make a closer environment to the reality. There are 5 places in the garden.

On the contrary, the garden of marsh is made for raising the marsh plant. About 100 kinds grow in that garden.

The emperor of Taisho period took a walk around this garden frequently when he visited Nikko to pass the summer. Also, a memorial garden was built for that. There is a chestnut tree, which is called "Oboushi-kakeno^kurinoki" (The chestnut tree that the emperor hooked his hat on the branch.) A moat is located in the middle of the garden, and eastside of the moat is a part of the former Tamozawa Imperial Villa. That villa became a part of the Nikko Botanical Garden in 1950. Bridge on the river of Tamozawa, stone lantern remain old times.

The Nikko Botanical Garden is a branch of Koishikawa Botanical Garden in Bunkyo ward of Tokyo. Tokugawa government made Koishikawa tea garden in 1684, and it was passed down to today's Koishikawa Botanical Garden.