Johor Sultan Gardens

Johor Bahru, Malaysia, Malaysia

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Johor Sultan Gardens, officially known as the Johor Royal Botanical Garden, is a historic royal garden located within the grounds of Istana Besar (Grand Palace) in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, covering 126 acres and featuring over 145,000 trees and 583 species of flora.

Originally developed in 1864 as a private retreat for the royal family, the gardens were closed to the public for over a century until they reopened on August 31, 2025, becoming one of Johor's new tourism landmarks for Visit Johor Year 2026. The garden is divided into 12 themed zones or Special Gardens and includes a striking attraction called the Japanese House, which was built entirely in Japan and transported to Malaysia as a gift from Japan's Emperor during Sultan Abu Bakar's visit in the 1880s, originally serving as a venue for royal diplomatic meetings.

The garden functions as a botanical gallery housing selected plant species from Johor and beyond, reflecting the state's natural heritage identity. It is open to visitors Wednesday through Sunday from 8 AM to 6 PM, with Monday and Tuesday closed for maintenance, and admission costs RM2 for Malaysian citizens and RM30 for non-Malaysians, while children under 5 and disabled persons enter free. Tickets must be purchased online in advance, and the garden is located at Jalan Ayer Molek, Bandar Johor Bahru.