Post Tour 3
Information on the 20th World Rose Convention in Fukuyama 2025 Post-tour:
Tour to rose gardens that have been awarded the WFRS Award of Garden Excellence

Travel from Fukuyama to Shizuoka by bullet train.

Acao Forest

This garden, built on a slope overlooking the sea, features 13 different themed areas highlighting roses and other seasonal flowers. It boasts approximately 600 varieties and 4,000 bushes of roses. Starting from the top at the Soga Asama Shrine, visitors can explore the Japanese Garden, Ocean Garden, a collection garden dominated by roses, and an English garden. Descending the steepest rose valley leads to the Wedding Garden. Continuing down to the lowest point brings you to the French Rose Garden and Herb Garden, where a herb workshop is also located. At a spot overlooking the Ocean Garden stands the Koeda House, designed by a renowned Japanese architect, offering a café experience. Acao Forest received the World Federation of Rose Societies Outstanding Garden Award in 2015.

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Hakone Sekisho

Hakone Sekisho Ruins, located in Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, used to be one of the important checkpoints in the Edo period. Positioned at a critical point on the Tokaido road, it served as a vital transportation hub connecting Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto. Within the grounds of the checkpoint are guardhouses, watchtowers, and other structures that provide insight into the operation and role of checkpoints during the Edo period. Surrounding the checkpoint is a beautiful natural landscape ideal for strolling and sightseeing.

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Hakone Ropeway

Hakone Ropeway, located in Hakone Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, spans approximately 4 kilometers from Sounzan Station to Owakudani Station, and then to Togendai Station. It offers panoramic views of Hakone's abundant natural beauty. At Owakudani Station along the way, visitors can see volcanic smoke and the source of a hot spring, and enjoy the famous black eggs. On clear days, you can also admire the magnificent view of Mount Fuji from the ropeway. At Togendai Station, visitors can disembark near Lake Ashinoko and take a sightseeing boat cruise on the lake.

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Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands

A botanical garden focusing on plants that grow in wetlands such as marshes, rivers, and lakes including wetland plants from lowlands to high mountains scattered throughout Japan. The garden houses approximately 1,700 species of plants, including 200 species of wetland plants found across Japan, as well as grasslands, forests, and 1,100 species of alpine plants. There are also rare mountain plants from overseas. The garden paths lead visitors through various levels, from lowlands to well-developed wetlands, showcasing a variety of plants. You can also find Hakone sanshoubara (Rosa hirtula) growing in various locations within the garden.

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Kana Garden

Kana Garden is a comprehensive botanical garden surrounded by flowers and greenery, located in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. The expansive grounds feature a diverse range of plants, offering seasonal flowers throughout the year.

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Yokohama English Garden

Yokohama English Garden is centered around 2,200 varieties of roses, complemented by grasses and trees suited to Yokohama's climate and environment. It emphasizes fragrant roses that bloom throughout the four seasons, providing a natural landscape experience from spring to autumn. The garden received the World Federation of Rose Societies' Award for Excellence in Gardens in 2018 in Copenhagen.

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Sensoji (Asakusa Kannon Temple)

Sensoji Temple is Tokyo's oldest temple, located in Asakusa, Taito Ward, and is one of Japan's most famous tourist attractions. The main hall is reached through the Kaminarimon Gate, adorned with red lanterns symbolizing Asakusa. Along the approach to the main hall, called Nakamise Street, numerous souvenir shops and restaurants offer traditional crafts and Japanese sweets dating back to the Edo period. Surrounding the main hall are structures such as the five-story pagoda, Kannon Hall, and gardens, allowing visitors to experience Japanese history and culture. Sensoji Temple hosts numerous festivals and events throughout the year, making it a must-visit spot for both domestic and international tourists.

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TOWER SKYTREE

Tokyo Skytree, located in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, is Japan's tallest broadcasting tower, opened in 2012. It features observation decks at 350 meters and 450 meters, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Tokyo. On clear days, visitors can enjoy views of Mount Fuji and the Kanto Plain. The surrounding area includes the shopping mall Tokyo Solamachi, as well as entertainment facilities such as an aquarium and planetarium, making it a complex where visitors can enjoy a full day of activities.

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Jindai Botanical Garden

Located in western Tokyo's Musashino, this is Tokyo's only botanical garden, housing approximately 100,000 plants of around 4,800 species. The garden is divided into 30 blocks, each dedicated to different plant types, including rose gardens, azalea gardens, plum gardens, and Japanese alder gardens.Seasonal events and exhibitions related to the preservation of traditional Japanese horticultural plant varieties and botanical gardening are held.The rose garden is divided into three areas with approximately 5,200 bushes of 400 varieties planted. The main garden features a symmetrical sunken garden where everblooming modern roses are predominantly grown, alongside sections for wild species and old roses. The garden also hosts an International Rose Competition flowerbed, operated by the Japan Rose Society, and received the WFRS Award of Garden Excellence in 2009.

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Keisei Rose Garden

Keisei Rose Nurseries, a leading rose breeding and wholesale company in Japan, received the WFRS Award of Garden Excellence in 2015 at its rose garden. The garden covers an area of 3 hectares with 10,000 rose bushes of 1,600 varieties planted. From wild roses to old roses and modern roses, the garden showcases varieties developed by Keisei Rose　Nurseries as well as those from overseas rose companies, for which it acts as a distributor.　The garden is designed with shaped sunken flower beds, featuring shrub varieties like English roses on the surrounding slopes and landscape roses. Collections of wild roses are predominantly planted around the pond and in the naturalistic garden.

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The City of Sakura Rose Garden

This Rose Garden was established based on the Rose Garden Alba, founded by Seizo Suzuki, one of Japan's leading rose breeders, who collected roses from around the world throughout his lifetime. The garden was relocated to Sakura Kusabue no Oka, a public facility in Sakura City. Its primary purpose is the collection and preservation of Heritage Roses—wild and old roses—as genetic resources for future generations. The garden features 2,500 rose bushes of 1,250 varieties and received special recognition by winning the WFRS Award of Garden Excellence in 2015. The 12th International Heritage Rose Conference was also held at this garden. The library houses a collection of 9,000 books and materials donated by the Suzuki family, available for public viewing. The garden is managed and operated by the NPO Rose Culture Research Institute.

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