The annual Lotus and Water Lily Festival is currently under way at the Southeast Botanical Gardens, the largest such attraction in Okinawa. Lotus flowers open at around 5:00-6:00 in the morning and are closed before sunset during the months of June and July, their prime blooming season. On weekends during the festival period, visitors can enjoy this unique phenomenon starting at 6:30 a.m. and can also enter a photo contest, sample lotus tea and make a lantern using their own drawing of a lotus (100 yen, weekends, only).

Date: Saturday-Sunday, June 4–July 10, 2016
Time: Mon.-Thu. 9:00-18:00; Fri. 9:00-22:00; Sat. 6:30-22:00; Sun. 6:30-18:00
Place: Southeast Botanical Gardens
Admission: 1,500 yen for adults; 1,000 yen for students ages 16-18; 500 yen for students ages 6-15; free for kids ages 5 and under

Blooming updates are available (Japanese only).