Japan has many spectacular winter illuminations each year, in fact, a lot of great ones can be found in Nagoya. Many have a Christmas theme with Christmas trees, Santa Claus, and raindeer, so they usually end by January.
But one of the greatest winter illuminations in Japan can be found not far from Nagoya and it runs for more than half a year, giving you ample opportunity to enjoy this spectacle of lights during your visit to Japan. From October to May (or even June) each year, Nabana no Sato turns on the lights!
Article Contents
What is Nabana no Sato?
Nabana no Sato is a flower park in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture. It is part of the Nagashima Resort, which includes Nagashima Spa Land amusement park, Mitsu Outlet Shopping Mall, and Nagashima Onsen.
The park invites visitors to see beautiful seasonal flowers, from plum and cherry blossoms to tulips and roses. Every season has its own highlights, and depending on the season, they also sell delicious floral ice cream, such as wisteria, cherry blossom and rose.
Though the flowers are gorgeous, the main reason thousands of travelers visit Nabana no Sato is actually the award-winning winter illumination taking place there every year. The illuminations have been a yearly event for the past 20 years and have grown in popularity over time.
In 2017, the Nabana no Sato illumination was one of the “Top 30 Attractions in Japan by International Travelers.” And it has won the number one spot in the “Illumination Rankings” for three years in a row from 2013 – 2015. It might just be the most popular winter illumination in Japan!
The highlight of Nabana no Sato is the illumination show, which has a different theme every year. The show is completely done with LED lights, music, and programming which turns the millions of LEDs into a moving and flowing picture.
Another highlight at Nabana no Sato is the Tunnel of Light. There are actually two tunnels, both offering amazing photo opportunities.
The first one spans 200 meters and is adorned in a beautiful yellow hue every year. It is likely the longest light tunnel in Japan. The second tunnel is shorter at 100 meters, and its theme changes annually, offering new colors to discover.
Pictures turn out exceptionally beautiful on rainy days when the water that collects on the ground and reflects both the people and the millions of lights.
When Can You See the Illumination at Nabana no Sato in 2024-2025?
The winter illumination at Nabana no Sato is not only one of the largest, but also one of the longest illuminations in Japan. This year’s illumination started on October 19th, 2024 and it will run until June 1st, 2025. That’s a total of 225 days, and 225 chances for you to see this spectacular and beautiful illumination event.
The theme of the main illumination stage changes every year. In the past, there have been themes such as Japan, depicting scenes of Japanese history with Mount Fuji as a recurring motif, or Sakura with lots of beautiful cherry blossoms. Other past themes have included “Nature,” “Waterfalls,” and last year’s “The Golden Pyramid.”
This year’s illumination is Mount Fuji, let’s find out where the journey takes us.
Seasonal Lightup Events and Flower Viewing Opportunities
Because the illumination season is so long, other seasonal light-up events coincide with it. Below you can find the list of separate light-ups between October and June taking place at Nabana no Sato at night.
The exact start and end dates depend very much on the temperature and weather conditions during the season.
- End of November – End of December: Autumn Color Light-up Event
- End of February – End of March: Weeping Plum Tree Light-up Event
- End of February – End of March: Cherry Blossom Light-up Event
- End of March – End of April: Tulip Light-up Event
Nabana no Sato Is More than Just Illumination!
Nabana no Sato is first and foremost a flower park open all year round. However, it also offers many fun activities and shops, so you can spend a whole day there.
Additionally, when you pay the entrance fee you will get a 1,000 yen voucher for use within the park. This voucher can be used for any of the attractions and shops mentioned below.
Island Fuji Observation Platform
In the center of the park, you will find Island Fuji, a circular observation platform that rises 45 meters into the air. From the top, you will get spectacular 360-degree views not only of the lit-up park, below but also of the surrounding areas of Kuwana, the Nagashima Spaland, and on clear days, you can even get a glimpse of Nagoya harbor.
One ride in the flying Mount Fuji-shaped observation deck takes about 7 minutes and costs 500 yen.
Flower Garden in Andes Begonia Garden
At the Flower Garden in Andes, you can see colorful flowers even in the midst of winter. This greenhouse is a miracle of life and color. Roughly 5,000 begonia flowers are a sight not to be missed, and it’s pleasantly warm inside, a comfortable respite from the cold during winter. An additional entrance fee of 1,000 yen is required to visit the Flower Garden Andes.
Food Stalls
The many food stalls are a great opportunity to taste some of the delicious Japanese street foods. If you have never had festival food before, we recommend trying some of the delicious Yakisoba (fried Japanese-style noodles) or Korokke (potato croquettes filled with beef). Nikuman (steamed dumplings with meat) are also available.
For those with a sweet tooth, we recommend trying the traditional red bean soup called Zenzai, or you can opt to buy a slice of cake or a crepe.
Restaurants
Besides the affordable finger food described above, there are also multiple restaurants spread around the park offering Japanese, European, and Chinese food.
Try Locally Brewed German-Style Beer at the Beer Garden
Nabana no Sato sells 3 types of beer (wheat beer, dark beer, and pilsner) at their own beer garden and beer hall. They brew the beer locally according to German tradition and serve it with Japanese izakaya foods such as edamame, Miso Kushikatsu (pork skewers), and Gyoza (dumplings). They also have a sausage plate to go with the beer and German-looking interior of the beer hall.
Footbath
If you visit during the coldest months of the year (January and February) a visit to Nabana no Sato can be freezing cold. There is nothing better than sitting down at the hot footbath, which is fed by a natural hot spring and is available for free to use inside the park.
The water is piping hot, and soaking your feet for a few minutes will warm up your whole body in no time. You can buy a small towel for your feet for a couple of hundred yen, or simply bring one to be prepared.
Nabana no Sato Onsen
If a footbath is not enough for you, you can also visit the hot spring facilities available inside Nabana no Sato. Like most onsen in Japan, there are separate facilities for men and women. If you want to find out more about Onsen around Nagoya check out this article.
The onsen has multiple indoor and outdoor baths, as well as a sauna. The entrance fee of 1,500 yen includes a big and a small towel as well as shampoo, soap, and conditioner to wash your body thoroughly before entering the onsen pools.
*Unfortunately, people with tattoos are not allowed to use the onsen area.
How to Get to Nabana no Sato from Nagoya?
Many visitors choose to stay in Nagoya for their visit to Nabana no Sato. You can opt for a day trip from Nagoya to Nagashima Resort, where you can enjoy the morning and afternoon at Nagashima Spa Land riding rollercoasters and shopping at Mitsui Outlet Park. Later in the evening, head to Nabana no Sato to experience the enchanting winter illumination.
By Car from Nagoya to Nabana no Sato
It only takes 30 minutes by car to get to Nabana no Sato from Nagoya. Get off at the Wangan Nagashima interchange (IC) exit.
There is ample parking available for free at the flower park.
By Meitetsu Bus to Nabana no Sato from Nagoya
From the Meitetsu Bus Center (Stop #22 on the 4th floor) next to Nagoya Station, you can take the Nabana no Sato bus. The travel time is about 50 minutes. The one-way trip costs 1000 yen.
Note that the last bus back to Nagoya departs at 21:05.
By Train from Nagoya Station to Nabana no Sato
From Nagoya Kintetsu Station, take the express train to Nagashima Station (25 minutes). From there take a direct bus to Nabana no Sato (10 minutes). The total cost is 570 yen one-way.
Spend One Day at Nagashima Resort
We suggest spending a whole day exploring everything Nagashima Resort has to offer.
Start the day early by taking the bus to Nagashima Spa Land. Spend a couple of hours at the amusement park riding amazing roller coasters.
In the afternoon, head over to Mitsui Outlet Park Jazz Dream Nagashima right next to the amusement park to do some serious shopping. It is one of the best outlets close to Nagoya with many brand stores from Japan and abroad.
For lunch, you can either eat at the Nagashima amusement park or at one of the restaurants inside the Nagashima outlet mall.
Once it gets dark, take the bus to Nabana no Sato for the day’s highlight. Enjoy the illumination, have dinner at one of the restaurants, or eat from the stalls.
The day comes to a perfect end with just a couple of hours of relaxing at the Onsen at Nabana no Sato. You deserve it after such a long day of walking and riding roller coasters!
Now, either take the bus back to Nagoya or spend the night at the Nagashima Spa Land Hotel, where a comfortable bed awaits you.
A visit to Nabana no Sato and Nagashima Spa Land are great activities to do in Nagoya with your kids. If you are looking for more ideas on what you can do in and around Nagoya with kids, click here.
Nabana no Sato (なばなの里)
Opening hours: During Illumination season 10:00 to 21:00 (on some days until 22:00)
Price: Adults 2500 yen (including 1,000 yen consumption voucher), children under 6 free
* Note: opened during the New Year holidays. Pricing and hours differ from 12/1-1/5 and during the Christmas Special Event, which requires purchasing tickets in advance.
Address: Urushihata 270, Nagashimacho Komae, Kuwana, Mie 511-1144
Website (Japanese only) | Google Maps
This post was last updated in October 2024.
Although we strive to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information possible, please note that changes may occur nonetheless. We recommend you confirm any relevant information such as event cancelations or changes, opening hours, or possible restrictions using a direct source. Please keep in mind that these sources might be in Japanese only.
We are planning to visit Nabana no Sato this March 2023 and we don’t know how to go there. From Nagoya, where shall we board a Shinkansen with our JR Pass? Can we visit the place up to 8:00 PM because we want to experience Winter Illumination then go back to Nagoya on that hour on the same day? Thank you for your time reading this message.
Hi Ismael,
This is Elly.
Here are the steps to get to Nabana no Sato from Nagoya Station:
Take the Kintetsu Nagoya Line from Nagoya Station to Kintetsu Nagashima Station. You can purchase a ticket at the station.
At Kintetsu Nagashima Station, transfer to the Yokkaichi Line and get off at Nabana-no-Sato Station. The journey takes about 15 minutes.
From Nabana-no-Sato Station, walk for about 10 minutes to reach the park’s entrance.
Alternatively, you can take a direct bus from Nagoya Station to Nabana no Sato. The Meitetsu bus operates the service, and it takes approximately 45 minutes to reach the park.
Unfortunately, the JR Pass cannot be used to directly access Nabana no Sato as the park is not located on a JR Line. However, you can use the JR Pass to take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Nagoya Station to Kyoto or Osaka Station, and then transfer to a non-JR line to reach Nabana no Sato.
Alternatively, you can use the JR Pass to take the JR Tokaido Line from Nagoya Station to JR Yokkaichi Station, and then transfer to the Kintetsu Line to get to Kintetsu Nagashima Station. From there, follow the steps I mentioned earlier to reach Nabana no Sato.
While the JR Pass may not cover the entire journey to Nabana no Sato, it can still be a cost-effective option if you plan to travel extensively within Japan using the JR Lines.
Hi Elly. We are staying at Nagoya on the 23rd to 25th of October. We are unable to buy online tickets to Nabana no Sato illumination anymore as we just discovered it! Are we able to purchase it on the day when we arrive at the park or will that be a waste of time? Is there anywhere else we could purchase it?
Hi Christine,
I just made a call to Nabana no Sato for confirmation. They said that you could buy the tickets on the same day. Visa and Master cards are not accepted but you can pay in cash.
Hope you have a great day!!!
HI LENA
i AM PLANNING TO VISIT NABANA NO SATO ON 5TH OCT. IF IS NOT THE Illumination SEASON AS YET. WHAT ARE THE THE THINGS I COULD DO THERE?
Hi Tena,
if it is not illumination season yet it is a very lovely flower park.
It is worth a visit all time of the year.
This is Elisabeth Llopis, here is my recommendation:
Even if it is not night, during the day you can still visit the flower park. It is really beautiful during the day as well!
And also you can visit part of Nagashima Resort which also has an outlet shopping mall, Onsen.
This is the link to Nagashima Resort: https://www.nagashima-onsen.co.jp/
Will this be open on new years day?
Hi, yes the Park will be open on New years
great post! had a lot of insight and included it in my trip. Just wondering how to get back to Nagoya/nagoyastation? will it be the same way? I have read somewhere that the bus only runs until 9pm is this true? Just afraid of getting stranded and taxi is not an option. thank you in advance
Hi! Yes the last bus leaves at 21:05. But that is definitely enough time to have a look around.
On weekdays the park closes at 21:00. On weekends at 22:00.
Hi, we were booked through Klook to do Nagashima Mitsu Outlet & Nabana no Sato Winter Illumination Bus Tour on 10th December. It just got cancelled. and they will do a refund. I can’t find any other tours now for that set date. We added that extra day to do this. Any ideas? We will have a JR pass and staying in Nagoya. Thank you. Nicole.
Hi Nicole, if you can’t book a tour I recommend to just organize transportation yourself and go there on the 10th.
Is Nabana no Sato open Dec 28, 2023 to January 3, 2024. We will be In Nagoya on those dates.
Thank you.
Yes, the park will be open during those dates.
Dear Elisabeth,
I would like to visit Nabana no Sato on 1 jan 2024, is it advisable as it is a new year day and will it be too crowded?
On the other hand, do u have the link to book the direct bus tickets online?
Regards/Linda
Hi Linda, I rechecked the calendar of the park and it says that it will be open on January 1st 2024 and the opening hours are from 10:00 to 22:00.
This is the official website, buy bus tickets at the counters.
https://mitsui-shopping-park.com/mop/nagashima/english/access/index.html#access01
Spaland – tickets/prices vary depending on facilities. Use Google Translate.
https://www.nagashima-onsen.co.jp/resort/fee/index.html
Cheers
Hi Elizabeth,
1) Can I confirm the last day of the night illumination is June 2, 2024 as I plan to visit next week?
2) We plan to visit the Mitsu Outlet first then go to Nabana no sato afterwards, is there a direct bus to Nabana no sato from the outlet; if so where do I buy the bus tickets and what would be the travel time?
3) Would there is a direct bus or train which goes back to Nagoya station from Nabana no sato? What is the last train or bus?
Thank you
Angela
Hi Angela,thank you for your message.
All the information in this post is updated, including the dates of the illumination event, our suggested itinerary on how to spend a whole day between Nabana no Sato and Nagashima Spa Land (including the outlet mall), and all the possible ways to get there. You can read it to have all your questions answered in detail.
Hello, has there been any news when will the light illumination start this October 2024? Our trip to Nagoya is until October 19 only. We want to know if we can witness the light illumination on that day. Thank you.
Hi Norman, it usually starts sometime in October but the date varies. Last year it was the 21st of October so if it is the same it will be too late.
Keep an eye on the official website to see the announcement of the date.
Hello.
I realize this might be a silly question, but if we were to take the Meitetsu bus from Nagoya to Nabana no Sato, using an ICOCA card (which is what my companions and I have) is okay for the round trip, right? And that would also apply if we do a round trip using the train + Nagashima bus option you outlined in the article?
I can’t seem find any information elsewhere and was hoping you might know. Any information you can provide would be much appreciated.
Thank you!
Hi Anne,
This is actually a really great question! So what I found on the Meitetsu Bus website “乗車券のご案内” (ticket information) section says that yes, you can use your ICOCA card to purchase a bus ticket. If you are taking the train from Nagoya to Nagashima Station and then the local bus to Nabana no Sato, you should be able to use your IC card the whole way. Hope that helps!
That is very helpful indeed (and I hope this helps others too). Thank you so much for taking the time to look into this! 🙂
going to nabana no sato in Jan 2025, taking the train. but i cant find tickets online, do you have a link to the tickets please? Or can we just but the tickets in the front of the park?
Hello,
The advance tickets can be purchased online here. However, this site is only in Japanese, and using these sites when you are not in Japan is very troublesome and I don’t recommend it. It is much easier to buy the tickets directly at the park. The only days that require advance tickets (at the time of this writing) are December 23-25, so in January you should be fine!
Hi there, how can we buy tickets online? I’m coming too Japan in February
Hello,
The advance tickets can be purchased online here. However, this site is only in Japanese, and using these sites when you are not in Japan is very troublesome and I don’t recommend it. It is much easier to buy the tickets directly at the park. The only days that require advance tickets (at the time of this writing) are December 23-25, so in February you should be fine!