"Since it's a minor local landmark and the kids' school suggested a visit, I went to check it out. The garden was beautiful, and there was a history-related building that I found quite enjoyable."

Tetsushi Koyama

"牧野記念庭園 記念館 Makino Tomitarō Memorial Garden & Museum
Makino Tomitarō 1862-1957 "Father of Japanese Botany"
Dr. Makino was a dedicated collector and cataloger of the plants of Japan. He was a skilled illustrator and observer.
In addition to the gardens and the small museum, the botanist's library/study is preserved.
The museum displays the posthumously awarded Order of Culture & Order of the Rising Sun Second Class.
There is a small information center with some postcards of Dr. Makino's illustrations.
The 2023 NHK drama "Ranman" is a fictional presentation of the famous scientist.
Dr. Makino is represented on the 国立科学博物館 National Museum of Nature and Science wall of 24 Japanese Scientists.
There is a monument on the banks of the Edo River in Koiwa, Edogawa Ward celebrating Dr. Makino's discovery of the carnivorous plant, 貉藻 (mujinamo) Aldrovanda vesiculosa here in 1890. Since then, the plant has become nearly extinct due to flooding, habitat loss and pollution. The plant is still cultivated by hobbyists. Attempts to reintroduce the plant, which feeds on water fleas, have been thwarted by herbivorous fish.
There are many plants bearing the botanist's name in the Koishikawa Botanical Gardens in Hakusan, Bunkyo Ward."

Tommy Kurauchi

"Nice little memorial garden and kind of museum about an old botanist. Passed away just after I was born, but I'm sure there's no connection. Weak joke, but it's a kind of interesting place, with no charge, but there was no coffee for sale today, which was a bit of a disappointment insofar as it would have been a way to support the garden."

Shannon Jacobs