Shimabara Hibaruyama Flower Park ⭐⭐in Nagasaki, a symbol of recovery from the 1991 Mt. Fugen eruption, offers a peaceful escape with stunning natural beauty and cultural importance. Against the backdrop of the dramatic Heisei Shinzan lava dome, the park bursts with seasonal blooms:
Spring: Cherry blossoms, rape blossoms, and shibazakura
Early Summer: A sea of poppies
Autumn: A golden display of cosmos and sunflowers (celebrated by the Cosmos Festival)
Panoramic views of Heisei Shinzan and Unzen-Amakusa National Park abound, with unique photo spots like the "Random Door." Families can enjoy workshops, nature events, and interactions with ponies and goats, all within an accessible environment. More than just a beautiful space, the park, built on disaster recovery land and near historical sites like Shimabara Castle, stands as a testament to resilience and remembrance.
Nagasaki Cherry Blossoms🌸: Why Shimabara Flower Park is Japan's Best Kept Secret! (YouTube link)
Photo Gallery
Shimabara Hibaruyama Flower Park is worth visiting if you enjoy vibrant seasonal flowers, scenic landscapes, and a peaceful setting with cultural significance. Timing is essential if you decide to visit. On April 3, 2025, my visit to the park was perfectly timed. The cherry blossoms were at their peak, and the numerous small yellow flowers were also in full bloom. The photos I took serve as a testament to that amazing day.
Pro-Tip for getting here: 🚕 I had my Shimabara hotel help desk call a taxi to get me to the park easily. 🚌 For the return trip, I took the local bus back to the city!
Smiles and Blooms: Family Photo Time
Anywhere Door: A Picture‑Perfect Frame for the Million‑Flower Fields
Need Mobility Assistance? Cart Service Is Ready to Help
Bus | 島原鉄道 (Shimatetsu): Official Local Bus Details (link)
A Quiet Day in a Berlin Park, 1933 In the early 1930s, Takehisa Yumeji's studio became a hub for artists, inspiring ventures like the Mt. Haruna Art Research Institute. In 1931, Yumeji began a journey to the United States and Europe, supported by exhibitions of his work. While in the U.S. for 16 months, he continued to paint, creating pieces like Nude on the West Coast. Afterward, Yumeji taught in Berlin until the school was closed by the Nazis. He returned to Japan in 1933, his overseas experiences shaping his final works. His last exhibition was held in Taipei that year. Yumeji passed away from tuberculosis in 1934, leaving behind a legacy of beauty and cultural exchange. Read more: Prints in Collection—Takehisa Yumeji (1884-1934) Kuronosuke 黒の助: a Legacy Little Black Cat (YouTube link ) Photo Gallery The Yumeji Art Museum in Okayama exhibits many black cat paintings because the artist, Yumeji Takehisa , frequently featured them in his work, particularly in his bij...
This is a passageway leading to Nankai-Namba Station. Be aware that underground passages in Japan can be quite complex for visitors. When you arrive at Kansai International Airport (symbol: KIX) and try to reach your destinations via trains, sometimes you need to make connections at Namba Station (see Fig. 2). Namba Station is one of the main connection points (the other two are Umeda and Tennoji Stations). But, Namba Station actually means 4 different stations on Google map (see Fig. 3&4) : Namba Station (Subway): This station provides access to the Osaka Metro lines: Midosuji (see Fig. 4), Sennichimae , and Yotsubashi . These lines can take you to popular destinations like Osaka Station, Koreatown, Honmachi, and Nippombashi. JR-Namba Station: This smaller station has only four tracks and two platforms. It's located within the Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT) building, and the entrance can be easy to miss. Thankfully, it's connected to the ...
Koyasan (高野山), a popular pilgrimage destination for centuries, has been connected to the outside world by a network of pilgrimage trails. While most visitors enter the mountain by cable car nowadays, many of the pilgrimage trails still remain in use. Koyasan Travel—Temple Lodging (Shukubo; YouTube link ) Part of the pilgrimage trails, the Fudozaka Trail (不動坂; click the map to enlarge), leads to Koyasan from Gokurakubashi Station, the lower station of the Koyasan Cablecar. The steep, paved trail is 2.5 kilometers long and takes about an hour to ascend and less time to descend. The trail ends at the Nyonindo temple (女人堂). [1] On 11/27/2016, I have decided to descend from Fudozaka Trail instead of riding the cable car. I was the only person on the trail at beginning. However, in the middle of the trail, another young blonde girl passed me by swiftly with a big smile on her face. I was really surprised to see another soul on that rainy day. Althoug...
