Flower Festival Commemorative Park

The venue of Hana Festa 95 was later reorganized into a major rose garden with roses from around the world, named Flower Festival Commemorative Park. It now stages International Rose Competition entered by roses from all over the world including new varieties.

7000 varieties ranging from the species roses to garden varieties are grown, and most of them can be seen in “World Rose Garden” and “Rose Theme Garden”.

“World Rose Garden” is a garden in which roses from UK, USA, France, Germany, Japan and other countries are planted according to their country of origin. Most of all, they have one of the largest collection of English roses in Japan. In the furthest corner of the garden is “The Path of Old Roses" where the old roses are lined up in the order of their history all the way up to ‘La France’ to represent the first modern rose. Further beyond is “The Valley of Species Roses”, in which the roses are kept in their natural condition as much as possible.

“Rose Theme Garden” consisting of 14 different areas was open in 2005. “We thought that splitting into the area of different themes allows you to see and enjoy our roses in diversified ways. Rose lovers and fans with expertise tend to favor the sections of old roses and breeders, whereas the fragrance and colors seem to appeal to the visitors in general,” says Mr. Masashi Hagiwara of management panning section of the facility.

“Fragrant Rose Garden” featuring the types with fragrant varieties, “White Rose Garden” in unison of pure white color, “Competition Garden” serving as the stage of the international rose competitions, global “Rose Garden of the Breeders”, and “Royal Rose Garden” exhibiting the varieties related to the royal families of the world in some way are all quite unique. In “Blue Rose Garden” tracing the history of blue roses that any breeder in the world would dream of is an empty flowerbed- a bed saved for the real blue roses when they are bred for real. Such is another romantic scheme entertaining its visitors.

In addition to those 14 areas, there are two themed gardens; one being “Morocco Royal Rose Garden” with the roses sent as a gift from Kingdom of Morocco. Rarely found types tolerant of dryness are planted in “Valley of Camels”. Grown in “Anne’s Rose Garden” are the roses produced in remembrance of Anne Frank well known for her work, “The Diary of a Young Girl: Anne Frank”. The bronze statue of Anne that joined the garden in 2009 is another popular spot of visiting fans.

“What make our garden special is its size, variety, and the fact that we cultivate many other plants besides roses. Nanjamonja (Chionanthus retusus) and dove trees unique of this region are also very popular”, says Mr. Hagiwara. Their ground of approximately 800,000㎡ nurture not just the roses, but many other plants and trees such as cherries and plums. “Flower Museum” as a facility for studies and training, “Princess Hall MIYABI” where concerts and events are held, a large conservatory with flowers blooming all year round (“Global Pavilion of Flowers”), and the Observatory Tower all add up to make this garden one major theme park featuring flowers and greenery.