The garden was started by a local woman, Uto Yohena, who was 88 years old when she began the project as a personal pastime.
The soil in the Izumi area is naturally conducive to producing vibrant, deep-colored hydrangea blooms due to its specific mineral composition.
Despite its current status as a major regional attraction, the garden began as a private family plot that only opened to the public after the collection grew significantly.
The site contains over 300,000 individual bushes.
The garden spans a steep incline, requiring visitors to navigate varied elevations to see the entire collection.
Hydrangea Garden Yohena is a hillside botanical site in Motobu, Okinawa, featuring over 300,000 hydrangea plants of approximately 40 different varieties. The garden was originally cultivated by Uto Yohena, who began planting hydrangeas as a hobby in the mid-1980s. The flowers blanket the steep terrain, creating a natural tapestry of blues, purples, and pinks across the mountain slope. The site operates specifically as a seasonal attraction tied to the hydrangea blooming cycle. The garden utilizes the natural topography of the Izumi area to showcase tiered rows of flowers accessible via narrow footpaths. It remains a family-operated garden that prioritizes the preservation of the landscape.
The upper observation points that provide a panoramic view looking down over the dense, colorful slopes of hydrangea bushes.
Wear sturdy walking shoes with good grip as the paths are steep, narrow, and often uneven.
Bring insect repellent, as the humid, lush environment of the hydrangea season attracts mosquitoes.
Visit on a weekday if possible to avoid high foot traffic on the narrow mountain paths.
Attempting to visit during the winter or autumn months when the garden is dormant and closed to the public.
Open only during the hydrangea blooming season, typically from mid-May through June; closed during the remainder of the year.
Stay on the designated paths to avoid damaging the delicate bushes; do not pick the flowers.
