Articles by Simon Bernard    

Now that the cherry petals have all fallen from the trees, spring has just begun to kick in. Rivaling the beauty of the rolling lavender fields of Hokkaido, the yellow rape blossoms fields, known in Japanese as NA-NO-HA-NA, have just started to bloom.

In Yokohama Town, just north of Misawa Air Base, you can see the largest field of rape blossoms in Japan. It is an amazing sight to see the deep blue Mutsu Bay lined with the bright yellow blossoms as far as the eye can see.

Speaking of aMAZEing, one of the highlights of the festival is the giant maze carved into a large field of blossoms at the festival site. For only 100 yen you can challenge yourself to find your way through the yellow corridors. If you want to step back from the canvass and get some perspective, you can hop on a helicopter for a small fee to get a bird’s eye view of the hues of spring.

If you want to get a blurred view of the beauty, you can enter into one the marathons that take place on Sunday morning. The 10km starts at 10:30, the free 2km starts at 10:35, and the 5km, 3km and 2km marathon starts at 11:30. Sign-ups begin at 8:30.

The opening ceremony starts at 10:30 on Saturday followed by a stage show that goes on until 12:30. The stage show on Sunday starts at 12:20. There will be music, drums, and dances. The festival closes at 14:00.

At the festival site, located under 6 giant windmills, there is a photo session with models, horse and buggy rides through the fields, sales of special products, and a tasting party. You are going to want to try the ice cream made with nanohana which is, of course, yellow. And according to Misawa base resident Daniel Smith, the Yokohama town locally-brewed beer known in Japanese as chi-biiru is really delicious. This German style beer comes in two flavors, alt and kolsch.

Cameras and camcorders are a must not only for the festival but also for the ride there and back! Scenic beauty abounds for the one hour trip! You may also want to stop at the Rokkasho Visitors Center which you will pass on the way. You will be given an English guide book as you enter the building at the reception desk. Or right next to it, you might want to spend time relaxing in the Rokkasho Onsen, hailed as the deepest hot bath in Japan.

Directions

To get to the festival, go out the main gate and turn left at the light. Go all the way until you hit the T intersection at the Pacific Ocean. To get to the festival, go out the main gate and turn left at the light. Go all the way until you hit the T intersection at the Pacific Ocean. Turn left, you will now be on Rt. 338 going north.

From the T go 21.9km (there will be a Circle K convenience store on the left at this light). Continue straight 5.5 km on this road (here there is some construction and the road is often narrow) until you come to a light, turn left. (there will be a blue sign right before the turn indicating that a left hand turn will take you to Muttsu and Mt. Osore). Go 17.1 km. then turn left at the traffic light onto Route 24. (Look for the sign for the Rokkasho Historical Museum). You will know you are getting close as you start seeing the 20 windmills on the left side! Now you will pass the Rokkassho Visitors Center, the funny looking building with the strange green cylinder in the middle. After that you will see the Rokkasho hot springs. Follow Rt.24 another 11.5km until you hit the T intersection at Mutsu Bay. Turn right and you will be on Route 279. If you reset your odometer you will pass the Yokohama Nanohana Plaza (a parking area with souvenir shops you might want to visit later). Turn right another 0.5km after the plaza and start following the signs to the festival. Actually you will go 3.2km and turn right, then 0.8km and turn left, and you will be there!

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the festival and/or marathons at 54-2927.