While spring is flourishing on Japan’s mainland, you’ll notice different flowers taking center stage throughout the most refreshing season of the year.

Sera Kogen is a short two-hour drive from MCAS Iwakuni and is home to four huge flower farms growing moss phlox, nemophila, roses and wisteria.

Flower Village Kamu no Sato will reopen for hydrangea blossoms on June 1, but right now you can enjoy over 1,000 wisteria and 12,000 lupine blossoms at Sera Fuji-en Wisteria Park until May 19.

At Sky Flowerbed Hana no Mori you can enjoy 7,200 roses of different varieties year-round. The farm’s Rose Festival is running until the end of June and offers rose-themed experiences, foods, goods and more.

Walk through the spacious farms where colorful flowers spreading as far as the eye can see and enter this springtime dreamland.

After you’ve enjoyed the local blossoms, make a stop for a delicious lunch or early dinner at Ramen Café Pig Bone. This ramen shop offers some tasty noodles to make your trip to the area complete.

Yasuhiro Muneno of Stars and Stripes Iwakuni Office recommends the ramen lunch set made up of ramen noodles with pig bone broth, karaage fried chicken, salad, steamed rice and pickles for 1,180 yen ($8).

“The thin but well-springy noodles of ramen paired well with the rich and savory pig-bone broth,” Muneno said. “The karaage is very crispy and juicy and that goes well with the hot broth with rich flavor. It is a nice lunch set to sample before or after exploring vast flower fields.”

Make plans for a fun, quick trip for flowers and a side of ramen.

Sky Flowerbed Hana no Mori

Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Location: 1405 Tobarisoraguchi, Sera-cho, Sera-gun, Hiroshima Pref.

URL

Tel: 0847-29-0122

Sera Fuji-en Wisteria Park

Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Location: 1124-11 Bessako, Sera Town, Sera-gun, Hiroshima Pref.

URL

Tel: 0847-22-0020

Ramen Café Pig Bone

Hours: Thu – Tue, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., 3 – 10:30 p.m.

Location: 1012-3 Hongo, Sera Town, Sera-gun, Hiroshima Pref.

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Tel: 0847-22-0981

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

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