Botan serves as a guide to the Spirit World, a role that in many stories would be filled by a grim reaper. She is responsible for ferrying the souls of the deceased to the afterlife to face their final judgment, and she is one of many such guides rather than a singular figure. Her appearance defies the dark and ominous expectations of her profession. She has long, bright blue hair usually tied into a high ponytail and deep purple or pink eyes. Her typical attire when on duty is a light-pink kimono with a white obi sash, though she readily adopts human clothing and various disguises as the situation demands, such as a school uniform or a more formal outfit when acting as a trainer.

In terms of personality, Botan is genuinely friendly, helpful, and remarkably cheerful. She is often described as bubbly and cautiously optimistic, frequently using the word bingo to mark a successful turn of events. This upbeat demeanor is balanced by a tendency toward clumsiness, short-sightedness, and being something of a scaredy-cat or a motormouth at times. Despite her position as a psychopomp, she is not distant or cold; instead, she becomes deeply involved in the lives of those she watches over.

Her central role in the story begins when she is assigned to assist a recently deceased teenager named Yusuke Urameshi. She guides him through a series of trials to earn the right to return to his body and resume his life. During this process, she initially views Yusuke as a fascinating subject to observe, but she soon develops a genuine bond with him and becomes one of his most invaluable allies and close friends. After Yusuke is revived and appointed as a Spirit Detective, Botan is assigned as his official assistant and trainer. In this capacity, she provides him with his missions, teaches him how to use various Spirit World tools like the Psychic Spyglass and Communication Mirror, and often accompanies him into the field to offer support and guidance.

Botan’s key relationships extend beyond Yusuke. She forms strong bonds with his friends and fellow fighters, including Kuwabara, Kurama, and Hiei, becoming a supportive figure for the entire team. Her relationship with her superior, the toddler-like ruler of Spirit World Koenma, is one of loyal service, as she frequently communicates his orders and reports on the team's progress. Her initial professional detachment is gradually replaced by deep personal concern, and she experiences real grief and fear at the prospect of losing her friends, a turning point that occurs after she is forced to carry the soul of their mentor, Genkai, to the afterlife.

Throughout the narrative, Botan demonstrates several notable abilities. Her most iconic power is flight, for which she manifests a magical oar that she rides to travel quickly between the Human World and the Spirit World. She possesses a degree of spiritual power, including mild healing abilities that can slow or partially reverse demonic transformations, though she cannot completely cure such afflictions on her own. She has also shown surface-level telepathy and the ability to sense spiritual energy from a distance, detecting changes in strength and even pinpointing the moment of death. In combat, she is resourceful rather than powerful, once using improvised weapons like a baseball bat and bug spray to fight off possessed humans. Her development is subtle but significant, as she transforms from a somewhat detached observer of human fate to a fiercely loyal and emotionally invested friend who is willing to break rules and put herself in danger for the sake of the people she has come to care about.