For many people, spring in Japan means Sakura or cherry blossoms. In a town in Mie Prefecture, however, there’s more to the season than just Sakura.
Nabana no Sato
A popular and massive botanical park in Kuwana City, Nabana no Sato is just 30 minutes away from Nagoya. It is just a small attraction inside Nagashima Resort but it hosts one of the largest flower festivals in the country during the warmer seasons, as well as one of the largest illumination displays during the colder seasons (from October to May).
The park features a wide variety of flowers throughout the year, including tulips, roses, and cherry blossoms. There are also various restaurants, shops, and different attractions within the park.
What you can see in Nabana no Sato:
- From early February to late March, you can see Plum trees, Weeping Plum trees, and Kawazu cherry blossoms. These sakura trees bloom earlier compared to other types of sakura trees.
- From late March to late April, you can see two hundred (200) varieties of Tulips at the Tulip Garden Festival.
- From early May to late July, you can see eight hundred (800) kinds of Roses at the Rose Festival. Around this time, you can also see Hydrangeas, Cosmos, and Iris Flowers.
- The Flower Garden in the Andes: Begonia Garden, a huge greenhouse filled with flowers and begonias is open all year round. It’s heaven for all the plant-titos and plant-titas! Follow the route and don’t miss the last part of the building where you can find the Mikaeri-no-ike. It’s one of the photo-worthy spots in the park.
- The Island Fuji, a giant observation platform deck, lifts people 45 meters high above the park giving a bird’s eye view of Nagashima Resort. You need to pay an additional fee of ¥500 per person to ride this. This observatory turns 360 degrees giving everybody a chance to see the entire flower park.
- The Tunnel of Light is a major highlight in Nabana no Sato. There are two tunnels, the first one is 200 meters and is probably the longest tunnel of lights in Japan. It lights a beautiful yellow color every year. The second tunnel is shorter at 100 meters and the theme changes from year to year.
One of the main reason thousands of travelers visit Nabana no Sato every year is not only because of the flowers but the award-winning Illumination Display. During winter, the park is transformed into a magical wonderland with over eight million LED lights, creating an enchanting atmosphere.
We visited on the last week of March just in time for the Tulip Garden Festival. We arrived at the park in the afternoon at around 3PM. The crowd wasn’t too much so I was still able to capture good photos. You see, timing is key when it comes to visiting these types of places. We were right on time before the sunset and just in time for the illumination to start.
There still was an illumination show as these shows are designed with different themes each year. The theme of the park changes every season, so make sure to plan your trip wisely.
There are several food stalls in the park if you feel a bit hungry but if you feel like you want a full meal, you will need to make an advance reservation at any of their restaurants as some don’t accept walk-ins. There are also several gift shops if you want to get a memento before going home.
Knowing all these, Nabana no Sato is a definite must-visit destination at any month of the year.
But if you’re looking and planning to explore more of Nagashima Resort, you can also visit the largest outlet store, Mitsui Outlet Park Jazz Dream Nagashima, the Nagashima Spa Yuami no Shima hot spring complex, or its amusement park, the Nagashima SpaLand.
Getting There
There are three ways to explore Nabana no Sato, and here’s how one can go on a day trip to the famous flower park:
#1 By Train
The best way to reach Nabana no Sato is via the Kintetsu train. Make sure to get a Kintetsu Rail Pass which is only offered to tourists. A day pass costs ¥1500 for adults and ¥750 for children.
You can easily hop on a Kintetsu train from Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, or Nagoya to reach Kintetsu Nagashima Station. The travel time varies on the type of train but it usually takes 20-30 minutes from Nagoya Station to Nagashima Station.
From Nagashima Station, ride the shuttle bus to the park which you can ride for free if you have a Kintetsu Rail Pass. You just need to show it to the driver before getting off the bus.
#2 By Bus
Another way to reach Nabana no Sato is by riding the Meitetsu Bus or Mie Meitetsu Bus from Nagoya Station. You can go to the bus terminal on the fourth floor (4F) of the Meitetsu Bus Center, then find platform 22 to Nabana-no-Sato. The fare costs ¥1000 and the trip takes about 30 minutes.
#3 By Car
If you plan to rent a car while exploring the outskirts of Japan then you can easily visit Nabana no Sato by car. There are lots of parking slots available just right across the park entrance. I’m quite unsure as to how much the parking fee and the toll fees cost but it sure is a different experience exploring Japan by car.
There are also planned tours with private vehicles if you’re into these types of travel arrangements. You can easily look for these arrangements on Klook.
For easy reference, here are some important details about the park that may come in handy:
| ADDRESS | 270 Urushibata, Komae, Nagashima, Kuwana, Mie Prefecture 511-1144 〒511-1144 三重県桑名市長島町駒江漆畑270 |
| HOURS | 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Hours may vary depending on the season. Make sure to check the official website. |
| WEBSITE | https://www.nagashima-onsen.co.jp/nabana/index.html |
| PHONE | 0594-41-0787 |
| FEES | Regular admission fees: ¥1,000 in summer ¥1,600 in spring and autumn ¥2,300 during winter illumination NOTE: The fee includes a ¥1,000 gift certificate that you can use inside the flower park. If you hold a Kintetsu Rail Pass, you can get discounted entrance fees as follows: ¥800 in summer ¥1,400 in spring and autumn ¥1,800 during winter illumination |
I hope this helps you plan your visit to Nabana no Sato. This has been one of the highlights of my recent trip to Japan. I can’t wait to share more of that trip with you so keep posted.
If you have any questions, or if you want some tips, feel free to leave a comment or message via e-mail. If you like this article and want to see or know more about my other trips and tips, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
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