Best 5 Flowering Roadside Stations in Kyushu

Cherry blossom viewing at a roadside station Enjoy spring at a roadside station where flowers bloom

Spring is finally here. Spring is the season of flowers. As the cherry blossom front rises, various flowers open their buds along with the cherry blossoms. There are five recommended roadside stations in Kyushu where you can enjoy viewing cherry blossoms without leaving the station, such as near the station, at the station itself, or adjacent to a garden where tulips and roses are in bloom. There are also flower events and other fun things to do. Come on, let's go to a roadside station to enjoy spring to the fullest!

Roadside Station Yamato

Cherry blossom trees line the street right in front of the station!
Cherry blossom viewing on the terrace

Cherry trees line Route 263 leading to the station, the station parking lot, and the Kase River across from the station. The surrounding Kawakamikyo Gorge is also called "Kyushu's Storm Mountain," and visitors can enjoy cherry blossom viewing on the drive to the station and directly at the roadside station. While viewing the cherry blossoms around the parking lot is fine, why not enjoy viewing the blossoms on the terrace overlooking the Kase River with a local specialty, "Shiratama-manju" (steamed buns with a white bean paste)? You can also enjoy nighttime cherry blossom viewing and BBQ at the station's auto-camping site. In addition, from March 12, about 300 carp streamers will be blowing in the wind at the Kanjin Bridge in Kawakamikyo, 2 minutes from the station. The sightseeing houseboat "Yodohime-go" will be in operation from March 20.

Roadside Station Minamata

The rose, the queen of beautiful and noble flowers.
Don't miss the Rose Soft!

The roadside station is located in the Eco-Park Minamata, and is integrated with the Eco-Park Minamata Rose Garden. The rose garden is approximately 13,000 square meters, with 6,500 roses of 750 varieties. The roses start blooming in late April every year, and many people visit during the GW season to see the roses. The roses that bloom at this time of year are called spring roses, and are characterized by their larger flowers and more vivid colors than autumn roses. There are also vine roses, and there are more varieties of roses than autumn roses. However, spring roses are said to have larger flowers and tend to disperse more easily. The roadside station has a popular rose soft serve (350 yen) that contains petal extract from the queen of roses, the damask rose. It has an elegant rose pink appearance, and the aroma of roses spreads the moment you eat it.

Roadside Station Harajiri Waterfall

The 300,000 tulips are a sight to behold!
This year, the long-awaited fiesta will also be held!

Since 1992, every spring the rice paddies around the station have been transformed into tulip fields. There are about 300,000 tulips of 130 varieties! It is as if the roadside station is covered in colorful tulips. Cherry blossoms and rape blossoms are also in bloom, making it a sight to behold. The annual "Tulip Festa," which had been canceled in Corona, will be held this year. The festival will run from Monday, April 3 to Sunday, April 16. On weekends during the period, there will be events such as funny face shows and street performance. Also, on Saturdays and Sundays during the period, a shuttle bus will be operated from Ogata Station on the JR Kyushu Hohi Main Line to the venue at Michi no Eki for the first time in three years.

Roadside Station Kirishima

Cherry blossoms and azaleas at a roadside station with a superb view
Enjoy a three-dimensional floral landscape!

Located at an elevation of 670 m above sea level in "Kirishima Mythological Village Park," the knee of Kirishima Jingu Shrine, it is the highest of all roadside stations in Kyushu. Because it is built along the slope of a hillside, there is a gentle slope from the station parking lot to the observatory plaza. Now, 500 Someiyoshino cherry trees are planted along the course of the road train that operates up to the observatory lift, and can be viewed from inside the train as it runs slowly. Around "Kaze no Mieru Oka," a free rest area leading to the observation deck, azaleas are in full bloom from late April. On March 26 (Sun.), a "Cherry Blossom Gathering" will be held, featuring a traditional performance of kumen taiko drums and the sale of local confectionery "Nedabo.

Roadside Station Osumi Yagoro Legend Village

The statue of a giant standing tall.
It is surrounded by 1,500 cherry trees!

Near the entrance to the sprawling 20-hectare station stands a huge 15-meter-tall statue of "Yagoro Osumi. The legendary giant is a local legend, and during the cherry blossom season, this is one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Kagoshima Prefecture. About 1,500 cherry trees are planted around the statue of the giant, and they are in full bloom in late March. It is also famous for the rock azalea, which blooms one step ahead of the cherry blossoms, with about 1,500 plants. On Saturday, March 18, the "Iwatsutsuji Festival" will be held, and free pork miso soup will be served to visitors, limited to 500 servings (tentative). Yagoro pork buns will also be on sale.

A roadside station in Kyushu where you can enjoy flowers in full bloom in spring,
Please feel free to visit us.