The sakura may be over here in Kyushu, but that just means its on to the next flower. For a burst of color outside Kumamoto City, head straight for Showa Park in Ozu Town. The hillside park boasts around 40,000 azalea bushes of fifteen different species. They bloom from mid-April to early May and the park will hold a festival on April 19th, with music and food vendors. There is a small parking lot on-site but the park is also a twenty minute walk or very short taxi ride from Higo Ozu station.
Mandy Bartok @mandy.bartok
Japan resident for 10 years, with time spent in Okinawa, Kumamoto and Tokyo.