Gunma Flower Park Plus — which reopened in autumn 2025 under the concept "Enjoy! Playing with Flowers" — will hold its first-ever premium wellness event, the "Wabana (Japanese Flower) and Tea Retreat," on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
Set inside the "Teien Chabo," a traditional tearoom nestled within the park's Japanese garden, the program pairs a seasonal flower experience with a carefully selected Japanese tea tasting. The event is designed to give participants a rare opportunity to step away from everyday life, engage all five senses, and enjoy a deeply restorative afternoon.
Three Experiences That Make Up the Retreat
1. Reset with Yomogi Japanese Herb Hand Bath
Upon arrival, guests are welcomed with a warm "hand bath" using yomogi (mugwort) Japanese herbs. The gentle soak eases tension from the fingertips and guides participants into a deeply relaxed state, helping to clear the mind from daily noise.
2. Cherry Blossom Arrangement Lesson with a Florist
Working alongside a professional florist, guests create their own floral arrangement using cherry blossoms — a symbol of spring. The finished piece is theirs to take home, allowing the retreat's calming atmosphere to continue beyond the park.
3. A Supreme Tea and Confectionery Pairing Curated by a Japanese Tea Evangelist
The second half of the program features a tea ceremony crafted by tea master Ms. Uchida specifically for this event. Four distinctive Japanese teas are paired with selected sweets:
- Japanese Black Tea Sparkling
- Matcha
- Yabukita Sencha
- Benifuuki
Savoring this pairing alongside the arrangement guests have created, with the Japanese garden spread out before them, offers a quietly luxurious experience that is both refined and grounded.
About the Instructor
Mitsuyo Uchida — Founder, Japanese Lifestyle Academy
Born in Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture, Ms. Uchida grew up surrounded by tea at her family's Bandoya Tea Shop, run by her grandmother and mother. Her deep passion for the world of tea has led her to teach local elementary school children, lead numerous tea events, and open her own Japanese tea salon, "Nihoncha Matcha Salon 324," in Maebashi City, Gunma, in 2023. She currently runs the "Karcha School / Fermentation Beauty School," handles curated tea sales, and delivers educational programs through online courses, seminars at the Imperial Hotel, and corporate and municipal workshops.
The Venue: Teien Chabo, a Space Rooted in Gunma's Satoyama Heritage
Located within the TEIEN area's Japanese garden, Teien Chabo is a traditional-style dining space where visitors can enjoy meals and tea while feeling the atmosphere of Gunma's rural satoyama (mountain village) life. This renovated old folk house café offers views of the Japanese garden, bringing the region's cultural heritage to life.
The interior features walls made from Gunma-produced kibiso raw silk, an earthen wall modeled after Mt. Akagi using soil from within the park, and a display of antique tools from the silkworm farming industry that once flourished in the area. Throughout the seasons, the garden blooms with plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, hydrangeas, autumn foliage, and other flowers representative of Japan.
Event Details
Event Name: Wabana and Tea Retreat
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026, 1:00 PM–4:00 PM (approximately 2.5 hours)
Venue: Gunma Flower Park Plus — "Teien Chabo" (inside the Japanese Garden)
Fee: ¥7,700 (tax included; tea, sweets, and floral arrangement included)
Capacity: Maximum 10 guests (advance reservations required by 4 days prior)
Reservations: https://www.flower-park.jp/activity/wabananoretreat/
Gunma Flower Park Plus — Facility Information
Address: 2471-7 Kashikura-cho, Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture
Access: Approximately 30 minutes by car from Isesaki IC on the Kita-Kanto Expressway (toward Maebashi/Shibukawa); approximately 30 minutes by car from Akagi IC on the Kan-etsu Expressway (toward Maebashi/Akagi)
Open Hours: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Closed: Every Tuesday (※ Closed for maintenance March 2–13)
Admission: Adults ¥900 / Children (elementary and junior high school students) ¥300 / Preschoolers Free / Pets ¥200
Official Website: https://www.flower-park.jp/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gunmaflowerpark_official/
