We Love SHIGA BIWAKO

"Rosa & Berry Tawada" in Maibara city, Shiga prefecture, is a touristic farm established by a housewife who had a gardening hobby. This well-managed English-style garden offers a wide variety of activities which can be enjoyed by locals and tourist alike!

Rose Garden/ Peak season

If you are fortunate enough to visit Kansai during late spring, you should strongly consider checking out Rosa & Berry Tawada English Garden in Shiga if only to see the roses in full bloom. The temperature and climate of Maibara, Shiga is ideal for growing a large array of flora. In the 13,000m2 garden, the indigenous trees and plants have been kept and only enhance the seven gardens on the grounds to be conscience of the harmony with the surrounding environment. Despite being in Japan, you can truly feel as though you have been transported to England. (Two vacations in one anyone?)

BBQ Area

If you are feeling a bit peckish after strolling through the garden, there are several dining options, but for summer I would recommend the outdoor BBQ area. The entire dining experience is done in a DIY fashion. You are provided a grill and utensils for cooking your food. In a farm to table move, you can select and harvest seasonal vegetables from the field and cook using them just after picking. If traveling with small children, it is a great hands-on experience for them to learn where their food is coming from. The gazebo, which can seat up to 8 people, let you enjoy the scenery in comfort.

Onsite farms

In addition to the vegetable farm, they also a sheep farm and pony farm. Petting and feeding are permitted, but please only feed them the proper food provided by the staff.

Train

You can take a sightseeing trip from the station in Spacious Lawn to the new Fairy Garden area or just before the Sheep Petting Farm. Please enjoy the approximately 1 km comfortable train ride while your body sways with the train motion and your face feels the breeze.

Fairy houses

In 2018, Fairy Garden, a Village where Fairies Live,was opened on the small hills between mountains in the north area of Rosa & Berry Tawada. Like a scene from the Lord of the Rings, these small dwellings add a bit of magic to the garden and give you a feeling of wonderment and awe. Feel free to explore the area and find the various small houses and trappings of fairies.

Shaun the Sheep

Finally, the newest attraction at Rosa & Berry Tawada English Garden is the Shaun the Sheep Farm House. This area of the park is dedicated to the beloved Shaun the Sheep- a British stop-motion animated television series. Here you can interact with life sized replicas of characters and scenes from the show!

If you are interested to check out this unique venue while in Shiga, feel free to check the link down below for times, prices and access!

(Author : Deuce Ludas Griggs, Kansai Tourism Bureau)

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