Fukuyama, the City of Roses — and so much more

Fukuyama, host of the World Rose Convention from May 18 to 24, is a major port city on the balmy Seto Inland Sea, with its 460,000 people second only to Hiroshima itself in the prefecture. Around 80% of the city was destroyed by fire in an air raid in August 1945, at the end of World War II. In the mid-1950s, citizens planted about 1,000 rose bushes as part of a reconstruction bid, and Fukuyama blossomed into the “City of Roses.” The site where the roses were planted is now known as Rose Park, the focal point for the Fukuyama Rose Festival held there and at other parks every year in a two-day mid-May celebration that attracts some 500,000 locals and tourists. This year’s festival will take place over the weekend of May 17 and 18.

To coincide with the convention, a global gathering of rose enthusiasts and experts, the City of Roses will welcome the general public to the Rose Expo over three days from May 17 through 19. Themed as “a journey through the world of roses,” the expo’s main venue will be the Fukuyama Transporting Rose Arena. In addition to a variety of rose-themed displays ranging from Western-style flower arrangement to Japanese ikebana, visitors can enjoy talks and lectures with celebrities, as well as a rose market and much more.

Fukuyama offers much more besides roses. Along with Fukuyama Castle, which marked its 400th anniversary in 2022, and Myooin Temple, which boasts two National Treasures among its buildings, another must-see is the small, traditional port town of Tomonoura, a national heritage-designated scenic spot. Tomonoura is known among anime fans as the place that inspired visiting filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki with ideas for “Ponyo” (Studio Ghibli, 2008). This spring could be a good time to visit Fukuyama for the Rose Expo, and take in some nearby tourist attractions as well.

広島県福山市では、「世界バラ会議福山大会」に合わせ、5月17日から19日までの3日間、『ROSE EXPO』が開催される。これは一般の人でも参加できるイベントで、「ばらで世界を旅する」をテーマに、福山通運ローズアリーナをメイン会場に行われる。フラワーアレンジメントから生け花まで様々な薔薇のインスタレーションのほか、著名人によるトークイベントや薔薇の販売会などが開催される。

福山市内には、築城400年を迎えた「福山城」や、2つの国宝をもつ寺院「明王院」、景勝地「鞆の浦」もあり、見逃せない。

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