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Shizuoka 💧 Lakes & falls 📷 10

Atagawa Tropical & Alligator Garden

熱川バナナワニ園

Water scenery — lakes, gorges and falls that reset the pace of a trip.

See the photos How to get there Open in Maps
Best season May–June (fresh green) and October–November (autumn colour)
Time needed 1–3 hours
Admission Usually free; boat rides roughly ¥1,000–2,000 (≈ $6–13)
Opening hours Open access; boats typically 9:00–16:00

Photos

Photos from Wikimedia Commons — click any image for the photographer and licence.

What this place is

The Atagawa Tropical & Alligator Garden (熱川バナナワニ園, Atagawa Banana Wani En) is a botanical garden with alligators located in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park at 971-9 Naramoto, Higashiizu-cho, Kamo, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is open daily. An admission fee is charged. The garden opened in 1958. According to Kawata, in 2004 it contained 29 reptile species (349 specimens) in its zoo. The garden also contains a tropical botanical garden and fruit garden heated by hot spring water, with a lotus greenhouse (giant lotus, etc.), main greenhouse (hibiscus, orchid, etc.) and annex greenhouse (banana, papaya, pineapple, etc.). Other plants include bougainvillea.

Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Why it is worth the trip

  • Clear water that changes colour with the light, from deep blue in summer to jade after rain.
  • Walkways, bridges and viewpoints built right along the water so the scenery unfolds as you move.
  • Reflections of surrounding peaks and forest on calm mornings — the classic postcard shot.

What you can do here

  • Walk the riverside or lakeshore promenade; most routes are flat and clearly signposted.
  • Take a sightseeing boat or rent a rowboat, canoe or SUP where the water is calm.
  • Photograph at golden hour, when low light makes the surface glow and crowds have thinned.
  • Stop at a lookout café or rest house for local sweets with a water view.

Getting there

We do not have step-by-step transit directions for this spot yet. Open the location on Google Maps for routes from where you are staying.

Area: Shizuoka

Route on Google Maps

Good to know before you go

  • Paths near falls stay wet and slippery — wear shoes with grip, not sandals.
  • Water volume peaks after rain and during snowmelt; the falls are far more dramatic then.
  • Boat services shrink or stop in winter, so check the seasonal timetable before travelling.

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