Yohena Ajisai (Hydrangea) Garden

Okinawa, and Japan in general seems to be full of different flower festivals and events, the most famous being the sakura (cherry blossoms) in Spring, however the rainy season brings out another of my favourite flowers all over Japan.... Ajisai (hydrangea).

I first fell in love with the hydrangeas in Japan when I was visiting Kamakura, a short day-trip from Tokyo. They were blooming all around the temples and people were out in force to check them out. When I arrived in Okinawa, I head about the famous Yohena Ajisai (Hydrangea) Garden in northern Okinawa and knew I needed to get there. For some reason I didn't get there last year, but was determined to make it this year!

Yohena Ajisai (hydrangea) Garden is just past Nago on route 84 and was created by a now 99 year old woman. It has been cultivated for the past 40 years, before which it was a tangerine field. The garden first opened to the public in 2001, and contains over 10,000 hydrangea plants. It is looked after by the old woman and her family.

The gardens contain narrow paths that zig-zag through the bushes and up and down the mountain. There are hydrangeas as far as the eye can see, as well as many a friendly bee buzzing around. My 4 year old was a bit afraid of walking near the bees, but once we explained that the bees were just enjoying their time collecting pollen to make honey, he seemed satisfied to walk around with us.

The gardens are open from Mid-May to the end of June every year, so there is still 2 weekends left to get up there and check them out this year!

Entrance fee is 400 yen per adult and 200 yen per child and they have a small cafe on site if you want a snack after exploring around.

Directions to the Gardens can be found here

There were some other flowers other than just hydrangeas!

Family selfie

There's a small cafe on site selling much needed shaved ice for the hot and humid Okinawa summer

Some of the (many) bees collecting pollen throughout the garden

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