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.
- 1 min read
Azaleas at Showa Park
Spring flowers in Ozu
![Mandy Bartok Mandy Bartok](https://a0.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/u/896/240x240!/565e87e167ba810c868b6bb4.jpg)
By Mandy Bartok
Community writer
![Azaleas grace the hillsides of Showa Park in Ozu](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/19965-113526/1000/kumamoto-azaleas-at-showa-park-113526.jpg)
Azaleas grace the hillsides of Showa Park in Ozu
![The blooms call in various shades of pink and red](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/19965-113527/1000/kumamoto-azaleas-at-showa-park-113527.jpg)
The blooms call in various shades of pink and red
![The burst of color is a welcome sign that spring has arrived in Kyushu](https://a3.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/19965-113528/1000/kumamoto-azaleas-at-showa-park-113528.jpg)
The burst of color is a welcome sign that spring has arrived in Kyushu
![The park is laced with walking trails and some playground equipment for kids](https://a0.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/19965-113529/1000/kumamoto-azaleas-at-showa-park-113529.jpg)
The park is laced with walking trails and some playground equipment for kids
![The azaleas typically bloom from mid-April to early May](https://a0.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/19965-113530/1000/kumamoto-azaleas-at-showa-park-113530.jpg)
The azaleas typically bloom from mid-April to early May
![There were a handful of white blooms in amongst the pink](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/19965-113531/1000/kumamoto-azaleas-at-showa-park-113531.jpg)
There were a handful of white blooms in amongst the pink
![The center of the park has the most impressive display](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/19965-113532/1000/kumamoto-azaleas-at-showa-park-113532.jpg)
The center of the park has the most impressive display
![A blend of colors](https://a3.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/19965-113533/1000/kumamoto-azaleas-at-showa-park-113533.jpg)
A blend of colors
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Radica Sooknarine
9 years ago
The blooms are spectacular! I love your photos!
Thank you, Radica! It's certainly a beautiful park.
Yui Yamaguchi
9 years ago
Thanks for updating of this garden. I read about it on Kumanichi Newspaper website. They're very colourful!
Yui, I am "friends" with Kumamon on Facebook. He keeps me informed about what's going on in Kumamoto, so it's thanks to him that I know about this garden!
4 comments in total
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