Cherry blossom viewing tour

In Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, there is a vast flower garden where flowers bloom in every season.

It was a flower paradise created by a businessman as a way of "giving back to society." Sasebo Flower Garden is located about a 20-minute drive from the center of Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, and is known among local residents as a famous flower spot.

It was created by local businessman Zenzo Shigemura as a social contribution. The site is magnificent, with an artificial pond where Nishikigoi swim, covering an area of 40,000 square meters, and is home to 50,000 peonies, plum blossoms, 100 weeping cherry trees, azaleas, satsuki azaleas, roses, dahlias and other flowering trees, and the pond is surrounded by meticulously maintained pine and camphor trees.

In one corner, a Japanese-style building modeled after Kinkaku-ji Temple and a huge stone statue of the Seven Lucky Gods are enshrined. The garden was started over 20 years ago as a way to reward employees, but later it began to attract many local people, so the owner decided to create a place where the local community could feel at ease throughout the year.

According to Shigemura, "When I think about it, I started the company without any backing and I'm grateful that I've been able to run it until now." The recommended season to visit Hanazono, which is filled with Shigemura's feelings of gratitude, is April.

You can see peonies, azaleas, and weeping cherry blossoms all at once, making it a perfect place to see a profusion of flowers. If you are visiting Nagasaki or Sasebo, this is a cherry blossom viewing spot worth visiting.

20 Yanokubocho, Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture TEL0956-59-8711