Kusatsu Municipal Aquatic Botanical Garden Mizuno Mori, located on the Karasuma Peninsula beside Lake Biwa in Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture, opened on July 13, 1996, and is now marking its 30th anniversary. To celebrate, the garden is holding the "Mizuno Mori 30th Anniversary Festival" on Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12, 2026.
The garden cultivates and displays more than 150 varieties of tropical and hardy water lilies, and its atrium greenhouse allows visitors to enjoy them year-round. In summer, the large Paraguay giant water lily is also on display — an attraction that is rare in Japan. The garden's popular "Hanakage no Ike" pond, with its Monet-like reflections, draws visitors from across the country.
30th Anniversary Festival Overview
Dates: Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12, 2026, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (until 4:00 PM on July 12)
Garden hours are 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last entry by 4:30 PM).
Venue: Kusatsu Municipal Aquatic Botanical Garden Mizuno Mori
1091 下物町, Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture
Admission (tax included):
- Adults: 300 yen
- Ages 65 and over: 150 yen
- High school and university students: 250 yen
- Junior high school students and under: free
Please bring a valid ID if you are 65 or older or a high school / university student.
Access:
From Kyoto Station (Shinkansen / JR) or Maibara Station (JR), take the JR Biwako Line to Kusatsu Station. From the west exit of Kusatsu Station, take the Omi Railway Bus bound for Lake Biwa Museum (about 25 minutes) and alight at Mizuno Mori. Free parking is available on-site.
Main Programs
Commemorative Ceremony
The Kusatsu City Mayor, along with invited guests, will hold a commemorative tree-planting ceremony to mark the garden's future.
- Date and time: Saturday, July 11, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
- Venue: Lotus Hall (open for viewing)
Special Lecture: "Learning from Flowers, Enjoying Flowers — Flowers in Ayako Nishikawa's Life"
Ayako Nishikawa — President of the Japanese Association of Botanical Gardens and Director of Mito Botanical Garden — will deliver a special lecture on the role of flowers in everyday life.
- Date and time: Saturday, July 11, 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM
- Venue: Video Hall
- Fee: Free
- Capacity: 100 people (first-come, first-served)
Photo Opportunities with Mascot Characters
Popular local mascots will be on hand for commemorative photos, including "Hikonyan," the official mascot of Hikone City, Kusatsu City's official mascot "Tabi-maru," and "Onsen Dorobo," the official character of the Kusatsu City Tourism and Products Association.
- Date and time (Saturday, July 11):
- 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM
- 12:00 PM to 12:15 PM
- 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM (Video Hall only)
- Venue: Lotus Hall (4:00 PM session held in the Video Hall)
- Fee: Free
Container Gardening Workshops by "Shumi no Engei" Lecturers
Two hands-on container gardening workshops will be held on Sunday, July 12, using seasonal plants including flowers and herbs.
Session 1: "Starting Out — Life with Herbs"
- Date and time: Sunday, July 12, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
- Instructor: Haruko Nagae, Seibu Zouen Co., Ltd.
Session 2: "Summer Container Gardening Workshop"
- Date and time: Sunday, July 12, 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM
- Instructor: Yasushi Wakamatsu, Takii & Company, Ltd.
Venue: Training Building
Fee: 3,000 yen (tax included)
Capacity: 20 people per session (advance reservation required)
30th Anniversary Shop
A selection of original garden goods will be on sale, along with orchids from sigasiga orchid house and agricultural products from Konan Agricultural High School.
- Date and time: Saturday–Sunday, July 11–12, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Venue: Lotus Hall
- Note: Sales will end when stock runs out.
Special Exhibition: "30 Years of Mizuno Mori — Looking Back Through Photo Contest Winners"
Award-winning entries from the garden's annual photo contest will be displayed in chronological order, offering a visual journey through 30 years of history.
- Dates: Wednesday, July 1 through Sunday, July 12
- Venue: Lotus Hall Exhibition Room
About the Garden
Kusatsu Municipal Aquatic Botanical Garden Mizuno Mori sits on the Karasuma Peninsula by Lake Biwa, surrounded by mountains and a rich natural environment. The garden's theme is "connection between plants and people, and between water and people," and it offers a unique experience centered around aquatic plants, including the distinctive Lotus Hall facility.
The garden's restaurant also serves dishes made with lotus leaf powder, including "Hasu Men" — chewy noodles made with lotus seeds — and "Hasu Soft," a soft-serve ice cream, as well as lunch sets served on original giant water lily plates.
The garden is closed on Mondays (when Monday falls on a public holiday, it is open that day and closed the following day) and during the year-end and New Year period (December 28 through January 4).
