Enjoy fields of beautiful flowers and eco-friendly illuminations at Nabana no Sato

Enjoy fields of beautiful flowers and eco-friendly illuminations at Nabana no Sato

Nabana no Sato is a popular entartainment park within Nagashima Resort, that also contains Nagashima Spa Land, Nagashima Onsen, Nagashima Farm, and other areas.
The park is famous for its large-scale illumination displays using millions of LED lights and also boasts expansive numerous landscaped flower fields and manicured gardens.
When visitors are in need of refreshment, there is a wide range of delicious food and drink options to fit anyone’s taste. The illuminations of Nabana no Sato are powered by independent energy sources within the park and they use a co-generation system to operate the park facilities. The park takes great pride in being eco-friendly and keeping a focus on sustainable energy.

Written by Nathan Raymond
About the Author:
I live with my family in Gifu and Japan never stops surprising me. Recent efforts in the country to protect the environment are providing the Japanese tourism industry with an opportunity to shine. It amazes me when I see how Japan continues to be a world leader in technology while doing their part to ensure a sustainable future.

Caption: Nabana no Sato looks amazing at night and there is so much to see and do there.

I was excited to visit Nabana no Sato for the first time and looking forward to seeing the largest illumination displays in Japan. The theme of the main illumination changes every year and the theme during my visit was “Miracle of the Great Tree”, which represents the hopes and dreams for a bright future. It was a lovely autumn night when I arrived and the air was the perfect temperature for a long walk around the park. There were many other happy visitors there enjoying the light displays and flowers, but it was not overcrowded.

Caption: The displays were like something out of a fantasy world.

The illumination displays were more amazing than I had expected them to be. There was also music playing that added a theatrical effect, creating a wonderful atmosphere. I was so impressed that I made sure to take some photos and videos to share with my friends and family after my visit. It wouldn’t be the same as being there in person, but I hoped to convince others to make the journey to Nabana no Sato to get the full experience someday.

Caption: The 200 meter long Tunnel of Light is one of the most popular displays.

Caption: Each LED light is small, but together they create a powerful display.

I learned that there are approximately seven million LED lights being used in the displays at Nabana no Sato and most of the electricity used to power them is self-generated by the park. 

The majority of the electricity they use there is from their own generators, and with their gas co-generation system, they make use of the excess heat created by those generators to regulate heat inside the greenhouses that house their plants. By doing this they've been able to reduce their CO2 emissions by 20~25%, doing their part to help curtail climate change. They are making great efforts to satisfy their customers whilst at the same meeting their societal obligations with regards to consideration for the environment. 

Knowing this changed my perception of massive illuminations and I thought it was incredible that so much effort was being put into making the park eco-friendly and sustainable.

Caption: The green lights created a soothing vibe in the tunnel.

Caption: The hanging purple lights reminded me of spring blossoms.

The glow of the lights in the large illuminations was spectacular in the dark night and the displays surround visitors as they pass through each one. This immersive experience was like being able to walk around inside a work of art. The designs were stunning and it made me think about all of the thought and effort that went into completing each display.

Caption: The fields of flowers alongside the illuminations add to the beauty of the park.

Caption: The bright lights would sometimes make the flowers glow.

Japan is a country famous for its technology and modern design. The illumination displays at Nabana no Sato are a testament this, but they are also a great example of how nature and technology can co-exist in a positive way. 

Caption: This 1,000-year-old olive tree is located in front of the beer garden.

When I was near the beer garden in the park, I was surprised to find a very old olive tree among surrounded by colorful lights. I learned that, in 2019, two 1,000-year-old olive trees were brought to Japan from the Valencia region in the southeast of Spain. After being carefully uprooted and prepared for shipping, it took over one month for the trees to make the 10,000 km journey to their new home in Japan. 

Caption: I enjoyed taking a stroll through the trees at night.

Caption: The illuminated trees reflected clearly on the serene water.

Nabana no Sato’s illuminations and scenery are incredible, but the park is also committed to the conservaiton of plants. They consider it their mission "to ease the hearts of society's workers and give them the energy to take on tomorrow by offering them a wholesome source of enjoyment that cherishes the natural world", and they back this up by expending every effort to protect the beautiful flowers and precious plant life within the resort to ensure that they're preserved for the generations to come.One example of this is their project to protect the prickly waterlily (Euryale ferox). In addition to the its conservation efforts, this park is home to a variety of flowers and plants that thrive in each season such as rose, cherry, tuliip, cosmos and more.

 It was nice to know that the park was making a contribution to environmental protection while providing an awesome entertainment experience.

Caption: The endangered prickly waterlily is being protected at Nabana no Sato.

In 2004, the park planted some prickly waterlily seeds in a habitat where they could thrive. The project was a great success and there are now over 100 prickly waterlilies growing in the wild at Nabana no Sato thanks to their preservation efforts.

Caption: The large green lily pads have flourished in their natural habitat.

Every year from the second half of August to the end of September, visitors can see the prickly waterlily flowers blooming and pink seeds floating on the surface of the water. The flowers are a vibrant purple and bloom in a half-open state. In the late autumn, the endangered floating plants bear large, thorny fruits

Caption:The beautiful trees and flowers are in bloom year-round at Nabana no Sato

Caption: There are rows upon rows of perfectly grown flowers.

Caption: The rows of flowers reminded me of people standing in solidarity.

Caption: It was a wonderful visit and I could reflect on the mix of technology, art and nature.

Most of my visit was spent outside walking and looking at the illuminations, but Nabana no Sato also has many indoor areas with flowers and places to take a rest. When I was ready to take a break, it was nice to have a quiet place to sit and smell the flowers.

The variety of flowers and plants at the park is really remarkable and the people who take care of them must be experts. I was again struck by how technology and nature worked so well together in the massive flower displays. The sheer scale of the illuminations and flower fields at Nabana no Sato is truly something you have to see in person to appreciate.

It had been a special visit and I would never forget the epic scale of the displays I had seen. I was also impressed by everything I had learned about. I personally have been deeply moved by Nagashima Resort's ability to be focused on customer satisfaction whilst also being unfailingly considerate towards the environment.  I now know that it is possible to be on the cutting edge of technology in an environmentally responsible way. Anyone who chooses to visit Nabana no Sato is sure to appreciate all of the special efforts going on behind the breathtaking beauty. 

Tourist attractions covered by this article