Nagasakibana Resort Campsite
The scenic Nagasakibana Resort Campsite faces the Suonada Sea and is located on the tip of the Nagasakibana cape. In good weather, the drive along the coast to the resort from Bungotakada offers beautiful views, and on clear days the nearby islands of Himeshima and Chugoku are visible from the campsite.
The numerous sights and year-round activities at the resort include a beach, seasonal flower displays, art installations, and other seaside activities. In spring, approximately 22 million canola flowers turn the fields around Nagasakibana into a sea of yellow, and summer brings the stunning display of 1.4 million sunflowers in bloom. Guests can soak up ocean views while dining at the onsite restaurant and can shop for a variety of products made from locally produced canola and sunflower oils.
A number of notable installations by Japanese and international artists including Yoko Ono and South Korean graphic designer Choi Jeong-Hwa can be found on the grounds. The resort was one of the sites of the 2014 Kunisaki Art Festival and featured works from both artists. A number of other art installations have been added to the campsite in the years following the event.
The resort offers various lodging options including cottages, bungalows, log houses, and tent sites. Camping trailers are also available near the beach with easy access to barbecue facilities and water activities such as stand up paddleboard rentals (SUP).
Some of the best views in the area are to be had at the furthest point of Nagasakibana where the panoramic views of the sea, especially at sunset, make the journey more than worthwhile. Nearby is the reef formation and land-tied island known as Umanose. Its name comes from its peculiar shape, which is reminiscent of the back of a horse. At low tide, it is possible to walk directly to the island without getting wet.
Another remarkable spot on Nagasakibana is the Gyoja Doketsu (Gyoja Cave), which was created as seawater slowly eroded the topography of the cape. Gyoja Doketsu, the largest of around 20 sea caves on the cape, is also used as a site for ascetic practices and is designated a Natural Monument of Oita prefecture.