Okegawa Benibana Field (safflower field)

Benibana, the city flower of Okegawa. The production of safflower in Okegawa started when Edo merchants brought the seeds to the city. Since then, Okegawa has prospered as a center of safflower production and an inn town on the Nakasendo highway.

After Yamagata Prefecture's Mogami Benibana, Okegawa's Benibana is known as Okegawa Enji and is the second largest producer in Japan, making it famous throughout the country. Today, the city of Okegawa is developing the city as a symbol of "Benibana. Benibana is planted in the Kawataya area (around the Okegawa City Agricultural Center) and the Kano area (around the Benibana Furusato-kan).

In mid-June, when the flowers are in full bloom, the "Benibana Festival" is held around the Okegawa Agricultural Center. At the "Benibana Picking Garden", you can view the benibana fields and participate in benibana picking experiences. At the Kawataya Lifelong Learning Center, visitors can try their hand at Benibana dyeing. The Benibana Furusato-kan is open all year round and has a restaurant and hands-on classes. Let's go to Okegawa, which is dotted with spots where you can experience benihana from every angle!