A Botanical Garden Designed by Architect Tadao Ando

The Awaji Yumebutai, located in the northeast part of Awaji Island, is a multipurpose resort designed by world-renowned architect Tadao Ando. The resort has a variety of facilities, such as a large garden, hotel, international conference hall, greenhouse, and observation terraces. Walking around the maze-like grounds is bound to satisfy even the most adventurous visitors.

Consisting of two glass-clad buildings that cross each other, the Kiseki no Hoshi Greenhouse is located in one corner of the Awaji Yumebutai complex. International flower exhibitions as well as the Japan Flora 2000 exhibition, which was planned and produced by Tomoko Tsujimoto, are held here. The greenhouse is Japan’s largest in terms of floorspace.

Plants & Arts Exhibition Area

It’s never-ending tropical summer inside the greenhouse! By cleverly combining various elements including rare plants (some carnivorous), water, light and art, visitors have all their 5 senses stimulated by the beauty and splendour of nature. (This photo was taken during the February orchid exhibition.)

Each with its own characteristic theme of plant shape, color and smell to appeal to visitors’ senses, the greenhouse is divided into several areas: The Plants Gallery, dedicated to plant shapes; the Tropical Garden, with its vibrant colors; the Japanese Garden, a collaboration between plants and traditional arts.

Tropical Garden Summer Show!

Though it’s located right at the back, the main attraction is the Flower Show Space. Seven times a year, a grand flower show with flowers from all over the world takes place here, and parties, concerts and wedding ceremonies during these periods are showered in flowers. For example, during the period of 2016/07/16 – 09/23 a tropical show called Minami no Shima no Natsu Monogatari (Tropical Island Summer Story) takes place.

As the entire space turns tropical, visitors can see vibrant flowers such as hibiscuses, anthuriums, and bouganvilleas.

Aptly named Let’s Find Them! Our Fun Tropical Friends!, there are also art pieces like topiaries with motifs of animals living on tropical islands. (Topiary is the art of trimming and cutting evergreen trees and bushes into shapes.)

Perfect for a pleasant stroll among Flowers and Art, this summer garden is a whimsical fun space of colorful tropical flowers and flamingo and dolphin topiaries.

As the special parfait menu changes according to flower show theme, at the Miracle Planet Cafe you can indulge in even more ‘tropical’. This particular one blows all the summer heat away with a cool, sweet breeze.

Furthermore, between 2016/09/17 – 09/19 the Awaji Yumebutai Flower Culture Festival takes place. Using the Kiseki no Hoshi Greenhouse’s tropical garden as a stage, events such as hula dance, belly dance, a children’s’ musical, and ukulele live performances will be held. There will also be local food and handicrafts from Awaji. As this event is filled to the brim with the appeal of Awaji, do not miss the chance to enjoy everything that Awaji has to offer!

7 Seasonal Face-Lifts a Year!

As the Kiseki no Hoshi Greenhouse changes 7 times a year according to season, visitors can come back again and again and still be in for new experiences.

The Christmas Flower Show is held from November to January. It stays open in the evening (until 9 pm) on weekends and on the day before Christmas.

The Hanami Garden event is held March – April. During this period, visitors can enjoy taking a walk in a Japanese-style garden with traditional Japanese works of art and gorgeous spring flowers such as primroses, various kinds of spirea, and blossoming sakura trees.

In addition, there is also the Awaji Yumebutai Orchid Exhibition from January to March, the Rose Festival from April to May, the White Garden Show from June to July, and the Awaji Garden Renaissance from September to November.

At Kiseki no Hoshi Greenhouse, Japan’s largest botanical garden, which was designed by Tadao Ando, visitors can walk among Flowers and Art and enjoy a pleasant atmosphere whatever time of year they come.

Please do come visit the Awaji Yumebutai and the Awaji Island Akashi Kaikyo National Park.

Kiseki no Hoshi Greenhouse

Address: 4 Yumebutai, Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture
Tel: 0799-74-1200
Opening Hours: 10:00～18:00 (Last entrance 17:30)
Closed: 2nd Thursday in July & November.
※ Depending on the flower show schedule, there may also be other days when it’s closed.
Entrance Fees: Adults 600 yen. High school students 300 yen. (Elementary & middle school students and children free-of-charge) 
※ Prices may vary during special exhibitions.
 ※ Combined entrance ticket with the Akashi Kaikyo National Park also available (except during special exhibitions)
Parking: Available (1 day 500 yen. 600 spaces) ※ Closest parking area is the Yumebutai underground parking area.

http://www.kisekinohoshi.jp/

Setouchi Finder photo-writer: Hironobu Matsuoka