Sanriku Ofunato Camellia Festival

From late winter to early spring, the Kesen region is sprinkled with blooming camellia flowers. Ofunato City is blessed with camellias as well, so much that it has been nicknamed as the Camellia Village (椿の里). Ofunato is even home to the oldest Japanese camellia tree in Japan, at 1400 years old—the Three-faced Camellia (Sanmen Tsubaki).

The camellia flower is also Ofunato’s city flower, and has become an important symbol to the city and its recovery after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Complimenting this, the World Camellia Museum - Goishi, which showcases 550 different types of camellia flowers from 13 different countries, is also located in Ofunato. The World Camellia Museum - Goishi puts on a yearly Camellia Festival around February to March each year, when many of the flowers reach their peak. The festival is not only a good chance to enjoy the museum’s numerous flowers, it’s also an opportunity to enjoy performances, workshops, camellia themed products, as well as the nearby scenery at the Goishi Coast.

The World Camellia Museum - Goishi

The museum has an internationally diverse selection of flowers, so you may even find some native to your own home!

The first day of the Camellia Festival in 2019 was held on February 3rd, and included an opening ceremony which featured key organizers, as well as Ofunaton and the Camellia Daughters (Tsubaki Musume).

Ofunaton, Ofunato’s mascot character, is pictured on the left in the above photo. While Ofunaton may look like a pig, he is actually a spirit, whose body is made up of 70% camellia oil. He even has a camellia’s bulb on top of his head which is said to be good for the skin of those who pat his head. The Camellia Daughters, on the other hand, appear at city events and ceremonies to promote Ofunato. One is shown on the right in the above photo, wearing her uniform, which was inspired by a camellia as well. Ofunaton and the Camellia Daughters are examples of how important and symbolic the camellia is to Ofunato.

A white and deep pink camellia flower at the museum.

The community members shown above were awarded by the Ofunato mayor for their groups’ efforts in harvesting camellia seeds. The seeds can be pressed to make camellia oil, a great product for cooking, which is also beneficial for skin and hair health.

The festival also offers various experiences and workshops—one of which allows you to press camellia seeds for their oil.

Visitors can gather the camellia seeds cores, by cracking them out of their hard shells.

After gathering the seeds, visitors can put them into a filter and then into a pressing device. Then, they can pump the lever to produce their very own camellia oil that they can take home with them. Camellia oil, albeit a unique item, can also be purchased at the festival, and at souvenir shops in the area.

The festival also has hands-on craft-making workshops, such as a flower swag making workshop.

Participants gather around and make their swags, following a teacher’s instructions.

A completed flower swag decoration.

Along with engaging workshops, the festival also has an array of performances, which differ from day to day.

On February 3rd, 2019, local children from Massaki Preschool put on a performance as the Seven Lucky Gods. Not only did the children wear elaborate costumes, they also performed coordinated dances full of jumping and prop use. The children’s hard work shone through in their energetic performance.

Because a variety of events and sales are held at the festival, it gives visitors a chance to try out some of the many possibilities of camellias.

You can even try out special camellia themed sweets, such as Ofunato’s famous camellia crepe—with custard cream and apple slices inside, and a delicious leaf made from sweet white chocolate.

Aside from time-limited events at the festival, activities that will be held during the whole festival period include camellia tea and Japanese sweets service, as well as a stamp rally and quiz.

Stamp rally and quiz station—there are four located throughout the museum.

You can fill out the stamps and answer respective quiz questions for a chance to win special prizes!

A staff serves camellia tea and manju sweet buns.

There are also educational displays featuring camellia trivia and camellia related community action. This display shows the involvement of Ofunato’s Hikoroichi Middle School, and showcases their activities such as traditional cooking using camellia.

Sale of flowers and locally made camellia-based accessories at the museum.

Visiting the World Camellia Museum – Goishi also makes for a great chance to see the magnificent Goishi Coast, which is located right next to the museum.

At the coast, which is part of the Sanriku Fukko National Park, you can enjoy views of the ocean and unique rock formations, as well as the camellia flowers which bloom along the coast from winter to spring.

The Camellia Garden at Goishi Coast.

Attending the Camellia Festival is not only a lovely way to enjoy charming camellia flowers, events and products, but also a great way to see stunning nature along the way!

Information

Time:

2019 February 3rd-March 24th, Sundays, from 9 AM to 5 PM

Cost

Single cost: regular (set): 500 yen (600 yen), high school age: 500 yen, primary/middle school age: 300 yen

Group cost (over 20 people): regular (set): 450 yen (550 yen), high school age: 450 yen, primary/middle school age: 250 yen

Location:

World Camellia Museum – Goishi (Ofunato City, Massaki-cho, Aza Oohama 280-1)

Program and schedule for 2019: