Cheap Flights to Osaka (OSA) from UK Airports

Osaka is the surprisingly home to some of Japan's most stunning floral festivals.

Osaka in Northern Japan is second only to the city of Tokyo in exemplifying typical Japanese urban culture. It could not be considered a conventionally pretty destination, having been heavily bombed in World War II and nowadays is a crowded concrete jungle which can feel frantic and overwhelming at times. But the city has a green heart and it is the destination for some of Japan's most beautiful and venerated floral celebrations.

The Japanese take flowers very seriously and some of the country's most beautiful displays are to be found in Osaka. There is nothing like a massed display of the same type of flower, and June is the time to visit the city as it is when several different flower festivals happen more or less simultaneously. The biggest and the most stunning display is at the annual Iris festival at Otori Taisha Grand Shrine, where over 100,000 irises of every hue crowd the beds. Words cannot describe the impact of such a vast number of flowers. Also during June, the Ikasuri Shrine showcases its collection of over 200 different hydrangeas where the combination of colours and delicate flower structure is truly awe-inspiring. Last but not least, the stunningly landscaped Shirokita Iris Garden is the venue for a display of more than 250 varieties of iris planted in huge swathes - the gardens have over 13,000 individual plants laid out around the garden's ponds and pools. The result is a breathtaking experience.