Mie · Kuwana / NagashimaNo.216★★Open in map →
Nabana no Sato
— Japan's largest illumination and a flower park
A large flower park on Nagashima Island in Kuwana, Mie, known for a winter LED illumination that draws visitors from across Japan and for seasonal flowers in a 43,000-square-metre garden.
Nabana no Sato covers about 230,000 square metres on an island at the mouth of the Kiso River, roughly 20 minutes from Nagoya. In winter, the park transforms into one of Japan's biggest illumination events: around eight million LED bulbs are installed across the grounds, with tunnel passages and large themed displays that change each season. Outside the winter season, the focus shifts to the flower garden — over 43,000 square metres of open grounds cycle through tulips and nemophila in spring, sunflowers and dahlias in summer, and cosmos in autumn. A permanent Begonia Garden greenhouse maintains blooms indoors throughout the year. The park also has an on-site hot spring facility, making a half-day or full-day visit common.
Background & history
Nabana no Sato was developed as part of the Nagashima Resort complex, which also includes an amusement park and hotel cluster on the same island. The resort area has been a leisure destination in the Nobi Plain since the mid-20th century. The flower park and illumination event grew into their current scale through the 2000s, with the winter LED display becoming nationally recognised as one of Japan's largest.
What to look for — in walking order
- Winter illumination (late Oct – mid-May)
- about 8 million LEDs across the grounds; tunnel passages and large floor displays; theme changes each winter
- Flower garden (43,000 m²)
- open grounds with seasonal blooms: tulips/nemophila in spring, cosmos in autumn
- Begonia Garden greenhouse
- about 12,000 flowering plants from around the world; in bloom year-round regardless of season
- On-site hot spring (Satonoyu)
- a public bath facility within the park; usable in combination with park admission
How to enjoy it
Most visitors come for one of two reasons: the winter illumination (best after dark, roughly October through May) or the outdoor flower display (peak in spring). The park's admission ticket includes 1,000 yen in vouchers redeemable at restaurants and shops inside the grounds, so most of the entry cost comes back in spending. The hot spring facility requires a separate fee. Weekday evenings in winter are less crowded than weekend nights.
How to actually get there
- Nagoya Station → Kuwana Station (JR Kansai Main Line, ~20 min) OR Kintetsu Nagoya Station → Kintetsu Nagashima Station (Kintetsu Nagoya Line, ~25 min).
- Take the direct bus to Nabana no Sato (~10 min). During illumination season, the seasonal bus runs from Kintetsu Nagashima Station.
- Enter with combined admission ticket (2,300 yen, includes 1,000 yen voucher); head first to the flower garden or illumination area.
- Bus from Kuwana Station or Kintetsu Nagashima Station
- From Kuwana Station (JR Kansai Main Line), take the direct bus to Nabana no Sato — about 10 minutes, 300 yen, running roughly hourly. During the winter illumination season (late October to around late May) the seasonal bus runs instead from Kintetsu Nagashima Station, taking about 10 minutes (230 yen, more frequent service). Both stations are accessible from Nagoya: Kuwana Station via JR (about 20 min from Nagoya Station) or Kintetsu Nagashima Station via the Kintetsu Nagoya Line (about 25 min).
- Return bus from Nabana no Sato stop
- Buses back to Kuwana Station or Kintetsu Nagashima Station depart from the park entrance. During the illumination period the seasonal bus runs until after the park closes in the evening. Check the timetable at the bus stop on arrival so you know the last departure.
Before you go
- Cash
- Admission is 2,300 yen per person and includes a 1,000-yen voucher for use inside the park. The on-site hot spring (Satonoyu) requires a separate entry fee. Bus fares are paid in cash or IC card.
- Closing days
- Opening hours vary by season (roughly 10:00–21:00, sometimes later during the illumination period). Check the official site for the current season's hours before visiting, as they change throughout the year.
- Another way
- Some organised day-tour buses from Nagoya Station run directly to Nabana no Sato during the illumination period — useful if the local bus schedule does not match your plans.
- After you get off
- The bus from Kuwana Station stops at the Nabana no Sato main entrance. During the illumination season, use the Kintetsu Nagashima Station seasonal bus instead.