Hamanako Garden Park

In detail

Hamanako Garden Park consists of 56 hectares of green, open space at the tip of a small peninsula in Lake Hamana, near central Hamamatsu. A wide range of gardens with thousands of plants and flowers from around the world are maintained within the park giving the park an overall appeal and presenting flora to suit all tastes. These include brightly colored tulips that bloom in the spring, delicate water lilies that thrive in summer, and Japanese maple leaves that turn golden in autumn.

The park offers numerous things to see and do, including the International Garden, a showcase of traditional gardens from across the globe; the Garden of 100 Flowers, filled with a huge variety of shrubs, flowers, and fruit trees; and the impressionism-inspired Flower Art Gallery cottage and gardens. Many of the facilities and gardens were originally part of Pacific Flora 2004, an international flower festival held on the same site. The success of that event led to the creation of Hamanako Garden Park the following year.

The park is surrounded on three sides by water, and panoramic views of the lake can be enjoyed on clear days. A 50-meter-high observation tower provides an excellent spot from which to survey the lake and fields of flowers below. The lake lends more than visual interest to the park, as it brings cooling breezes during summer and prevents heavy snowfall in winter, so that plants that prefer warmer temperatures can be cultivated in the gardens.