Sanriku, Ofunato Camellia Festival
Event
Information
[When] Early-February ～ Mid-March
[Where] The World’s Camellia Museum, Goishi
[Address (Eng)] 280-1 Ohama, Massaki-cho Ofunato, Iwate 022-0001
[Address (Jap)] 〒022-0001 岩手県 大船渡市 末崎町大浜280-1
In celebration of the Camellia which largely grow during the winter/early spring season, the renowned Camellia Museum, also known as “The World’s Camellia Museum, Goishi,” holds the Sanriku, Ofunato Camellia Festival.
The number of attractions during the festival has diminished compared to the past due to COVID related restrictions, it is quite a sight to see nonetheless. The museum prides to hold over 550 different kinds of camellia flowers from 13 countries, and the festival period is timed just right to showcase a large majority of camellia flowers at the peak of their bloom.
Attractions they held through the month and a half of the festival period:
- Festival Opening Ceremony
- Camellia Oil Workshop
- Flower Swag Making Workshop
- Stamp Rally w. prizes
- Camellia Quiz/Trivia
- Live Performance by preschoolers
- Local Shops/Stands/Souvenirs
So why are Camellia Flowers famous around these parts, and why does Ofunato push to promote the flower? For one, camellia flowers are native in these parts and grow in many parts of the city be it the hillsides, grass fields, mountains, front/backyard garden of a house, etc. As such, one of the oldest Camellia Tree which is currently 1400 years old and counting can be found in Ofunato.
Although 2022 marks the 25th anniversary for the Sanriku, Ofunato Camellia Festival, one of the major reasons that pushed Ofunato to be known as 椿の里 (“Tsubaki no Sato” = Village of Camellias) to people outside of Iwate was the efforts the city put in towards promoting camellia flowers is after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster in 2011. Even after through the wreckage and damage the disaster has brought upon to the city, the camellia trees stood strong to bloom in the following year. The strength of camellia flowers can be seen in the fact that they bloom in the colder season and stay native in the land where sea breeze blows strong and where the temperature has a wide range.
In recent years the oil taken from camellia seeds are used to produce amenity products such as shampoos, conditioners, lotions, etc. and have also been used to make tea which can be found in the souvenir shops located within The World’s Camellia Museum, Goishi.
To further promote camellias to the world, during the festival period the museum holds a photo contests with prizes to involve the citizens as well as visitors to take a second to stop and look around to appreciate the camellia flowers that grow throughout the city.
(Details of the photo contest will be uploaded when available!!)