For a half-day trip to Nabana no Sato, we recommend a daytime plan that leaves Nagoya and visits three spots in about 5 hours: Nabana no Sato, then Jazz Dream Nagashima, then Rokkaen. One vehicle takes you to flowers, shopping and history, and your shopping bags can stay in the car while you move on to the next stop.

This article introduces a half-day Nabana no Sato model course with a full timetable. We also compare trains and buses, rental cars and chartered taxis (NearMe) to help you choose how to get around.

Nabana no Sato is best known for its illumination. The half-day plan in this article is a daytime itinerary, but a chartered taxi also lets you enjoy the evening illumination without driving there and back or hunting for parking. The Nabana no Sato Illumination (scheduled for October 17, 2026 to May 31, 2027) lights up around sunset. Chapter 3 explains how to use a chartered taxi in the evening.

1. Nabana no Sato’s Three Spots Are Spread Out | Travel Times by Transportation

Nabana no Sato (Kuwana, Mie Prefecture) is close to Nagoya, but linking it with Jazz Dream Nagashima and Rokkaen by public transportation means depending on bus frequency and transfers. Here are approximate travel times for each option.

Route	Train / Bus (incl. walking)	Rental Car	Chartered Taxi (NearMe)
Nagoya → Nabana no Sato	As little as about 17 min by Kintetsu Express (to Kintetsu Nagashima Station) + about 10 min by direct bus. About 40–50 min including waiting	About 45–60 min + parking	About 60 min, direct from your hotel in Nagoya
Nabana no Sato → Jazz Dream Nagashima	Transfer by bus or similar (depends on routes and frequency)	About 10 min + parking	Same car drives you and waits
Jazz Dream Nagashima → Rokkaen (Kuwana)	Bus and train transfers required	About 15–20 min + finding parking	Same car; shopping bags stay in the vehicle
Kuwana → Nagoya	About 20–30 min by train + getting to the station	About 50 min	About 50 min, to your chosen location in Nagoya

*These travel times are only estimates. They may vary depending on traffic, weather, road congestion and parking availability on the day.

Features of each option

• Train / Bus: Keeps costs down, and the route from Nagoya to Nabana no Sato is easy to travel. However, visiting all three spots involves many transfers, and you’ll have to carry your shopping with you. In the 2025–26 season, the local bus between Kuwana Station and Nabana no Sato was suspended during the illumination period, so check in advance.
• Rental Car: Offers plenty of freedom, but parking is expected to be crowded during the illumination period and on holidays. The driver carries the burden of driving and parking throughout the trip.
• Chartered Taxi (NearMe): Takes you directly from your hotel in Nagoya, and anything you buy at Jazz Dream Nagashima stays in the car as you move on.

2. [At a Glance] 5-Hour Half-Day Model Course

Travel time between spots is included in the approximate time at each stop.

Time	Activity	Approx. Time	Notes
9:00	Depart from your hotel or chosen location in Nagoya	-	Departure point can be customized
9:00–10:00	Travel to Nabana no Sato	About 60 min	No transfers
10:00	Nabana no Sato (Flower Plaza, Begonia Garden)	About 90 min	Admission charged separately
11:30	Jazz Dream Nagashima (outlet mall)	About 60 min	Shopping bags can stay in the car
12:30	Rokkaen (Western-style mansion and Japanese house of the former Moroto Seiroku residence)	About 40 min	Architecture that retains the Meiji-era atmosphere
13:10–14:00	Return to Nagoya	About 50 min	May vary depending on road conditions
14:00	Drop-off at your chosen location in Nagoya	-	Time allocation can be adjusted in advance

*This model course is one example and the itinerary is not guaranteed. Information about each spot and travel times reflect the time of research and writing and may differ when you travel. Please check for yourself before your trip.

9:00 Departure – 10:00 Travel to Nabana no Sato

Depart from your hotel or chosen location in Nagoya and head to Nabana no Sato with no transfers.

10:00–11:30 Nabana no Sato (about 90 min)

Nabana no Sato is known for its seasonal flowers and light displays. On the daytime itinerary, you’ll stroll through the Flower Plaza and the Begonia Garden. Admission is paid on site on the day. Depending on the season, admission may include vouchers usable inside the park, so check the official website for current prices.

11:30–12:30 Jazz Dream Nagashima (about 60 min)

Time for outlet shopping. Your shopping bags can stay in the car while you head to the next stop.

12:30–13:10 Rokkaen (about 40 min)

The former residence of Kuwana businessman Moroto Seiroku, where you can tour both a Western-style mansion and a Japanese house. The architecture retains the atmosphere of the Meiji era.

13:10–14:00 Return and Drop-off

Return to your chosen location in Nagoya. If you’d like to prioritize a particular spot, the time allocation can be adjusted if you discuss it in advance.

3. Chartered Taxis Are Also Great for Illumination Nights | How to Use Them in the Evening

The biggest highlight of Nabana no Sato is, of course, the illumination. The model course is a daytime itinerary, but a chartered taxi is also convenient for evening visits. The Nabana no Sato Illumination is lit from around sunset until closing, from October 17, 2026 to May 31, 2027 (scheduled). December 23–25 is a special Christmas opening that requires date-specific tickets purchased in advance. Check the Nabana no Sato official website for the latest information.

Why we recommend a chartered taxi for the evening illumination

• No transfers there or back: Go straight from your hotel or home in Nagoya to Nabana no Sato. The return trip from Nabana no Sato to your chosen location in Nagoya is also transfer-free.
• No parking hunt, no driving: Parking is expected to be crowded during the illumination season. Whoever would have driven gets to enjoy the views too.
• Not dependent on local bus service: In the 2025–26 season, the local bus between Kuwana Station and Nabana no Sato was suspended during the illumination period. Check this season’s service in advance.
• Stay in the car on cold nights: Winter nights get chilly. Getting in and out of a car keeps you out of the cold while traveling.
• Same price for up to 9 people: Families and groups travel for the price of one vehicle.

Two ways to use a chartered taxi in the evening

Option	Best For	Notes
One-Way Chartered Transfer (to/from Nagoya)	Those who only want to enjoy the evening illumination	Available 24 hours, with pickup at your specified time, even late at night or early in the morning. The fare is fixed at booking, with no extra charges after you ride. Transfer-free service from Nagoya to Nabana no Sato and from Nabana no Sato to Nagoya.
Chartered Sightseeing Taxi (Hourly Charter)	Those who want to spend the whole day, from afternoon into the evening	Departure time, stops and time at each stop can be adjusted to your wishes after booking. For itineraries running from late afternoon into the evening, please consult us when booking.

Prices for the Chartered Sightseeing Taxi (Hourly Charter) depend on the charter duration.

Duration	Price (tax and tolls included)	Best For
4 hours	¥37,000	Narrowing it down to Nabana no Sato and Jazz Dream
5 hours	¥44,000	Visiting all three spots at a relaxed pace (standard)
6 hours	¥51,000	Spending more time at each spot

*When booking, please check whether a longer charter can include a stay at Nabana no Sato from late afternoon into the evening.

4. Comparing Transportation Options | Train & Bus / Rental Car / Chartered Taxi (NearMe)

Each option has its strengths and weaknesses. On an itinerary with outlet shopping, a chartered taxi’s strength is that you can move on to the next stop without carrying your bags. For families and groups, splitting the price of one vehicle lowers the cost per person.

Comparison	Train / Bus	Rental Car	Chartered Taxi (NearMe)
Travel time efficiency	△ Transfers and waiting time	△ Finding parking makes timing hard to predict	◎ No transfers, direct from your hotel
Route flexibility	△ Depends on routes and timetables	◎ High (but limited by parking)	◎ Visit order and time at each stop can be adjusted
Driving and navigation burden	◎ None	× The driver carries the burden throughout the trip	◎ None (everyone can focus on sightseeing)
Resilience to peak-season / autumn foliage crowds	△ Watch for crowds and local bus suspensions during the period	× Risk of crowded parking and traffic jams	○ No need to find parking (still affected by traffic)
Group and large-party travel	△ Fare required for each person	○ Depends on vehicle; may need multiple cars	◎ Up to 9 people for the price of one vehicle
Handling luggage and souvenirs	△ Carry shopping bags through transfers	○ Can leave in the car, but carried in and out each stop	◎ Shopping bags stay in the car as you move on
Cost (small groups)	◎ Cheapest	○ Depends on group size	△ Relatively expensive for small groups

With a chartered taxi, the more people in your group, the lower the cost per person. Here are approximate per-person costs for the 5-hour plan (¥44,000).

*Admission, food and drinks, etc. are extra.

Group Size	Approx. Per Person
2 people	About ¥22,000
3 people	About ¥14,700
4 people	About ¥11,000
6 people	About ¥7,300
9 people	About ¥4,900

*This comparison shows general tendencies. It varies with local road and parking conditions and the availability of public transportation.

5. Best Times to Visit Nabana no Sato by Season

• Illumination season (scheduled for October 17, 2026 to May 31, 2027): The biggest highlight of Nabana no Sato. The lights are on from around sunset until closing, and a chartered taxi is convenient for evening visits (Chapter 3). Opening hours vary by period, so check the official website for the latest information.
• Christmas (December 23–25): Special opening that requires date-specific tickets purchased in advance.
• Daytime (year-round): Enjoy a daytime itinerary of strolling the Flower Plaza and Begonia Garden, shopping at Jazz Dream Nagashima and touring Rokkaen.

6. NearMe Is Our Recommended Chartered Taxi to Nabana no Sato

To get to Nabana no Sato, try “NearMe,” a chartered taxi that takes you from your hotel in Nagoya with no transfers.

Overview

NearMe is a ride service that saves you money when you book ahead. More than 1.5 million passengers have booked with us, with a ride satisfaction rating of 4.6/5.0 (October 2019 to September 2025). In addition to airport transfers, we offer chartered taxi sightseeing courses with set destinations and order.

• Chartered taxi (sightseeing model courses): Courses with destinations and order set in advance. For Nabana no Sato, the “Nagashima & Kuwana Nabana no Sato Half-Day (5 hours)” course visits Nabana no Sato, Jazz Dream Nagashima and Rokkaen.
• Up to 9 people for the price of one vehicle: The price stays the same no matter how many people ride.
• Customizable itinerary: Departure time, stops and time at each stop can be adjusted to your wishes after booking.
• Also for the evening illumination: With the chartered taxi to and from Nagoya (available 24 hours), there are no transfers there or back. We pick you up at your specified time.

How to Use & Pricing

Item	Details
Duration & price	4 hours ¥37,000 / 5 hours ¥44,000 / 6 hours ¥51,000
Capacity	Up to 9 people per vehicle (minivan or large van)
Included	Half-day chartered transfer in the greater Nagoya area, highway tolls, parking fees and service charges
Not included	Vehicle type selection fee, admission to Nabana no Sato and other sites, tour guide, personal expenses
Pickup & drop-off	Hotels or chosen locations in Nagoya. Departure point and stops can be customized
Booking	Confirmation within 3 days of a provisional booking. For last-minute bookings, availability is confirmed within a few hours
Cancellation	Free up to 3 days before / 30% of the fare 2–1 days before / 50% from the day of until the scheduled pickup time / 100% after the pickup time

*Information as of October 2026. Check the official tour page for the latest prices and terms.

How to Get Even Better Value

• Split the cost to lower the per-person price: The price of one vehicle is the same for up to 9 people. That’s about ¥11,000 per person for 4 people, or about ¥4,900 for 9.
• Highway tolls and parking included: No need to worry about extra tolls or parking fees.
• Free cancellation up to 3 days before: Easy to book even if your travel plans may change.

NearMe Is Recommended for

• Those who want to visit Nabana no Sato, Jazz Dream Nagashima and Rokkaen from Nagoya with no transfers
• Those with lots of luggage such as shopping bags, or traveling with small children or older family members
• Those who want to enjoy the evening illumination without driving or hunting for parking
• Families, friends and other groups (up to 9 people) who want to get around efficiently

7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. Is admission to Nabana no Sato included?

A. No. Admission is paid on site on the day. Depending on the season, Nabana no Sato’s admission may include vouchers usable inside the park, so check current prices on site or on the official website.

Q. Can I use a chartered taxi for the evening illumination?

A. Yes. The model course is a daytime itinerary, but for evening visits you can use the 24-hour transfer plan (to and from Nagoya). If you want to spend the whole day, from afternoon into the evening, you can also adjust the departure time and other details of the Chartered Sightseeing Taxi. For late afternoon to evening itineraries, please consult us when booking.

Q. Can I take a taxi home after the evening illumination?

A. Yes. The transfer plan takes you from Nabana no Sato to your home or chosen location in Nagoya with no transfers. It’s available 24 hours, so late returns are no problem. A reservation is required.

Q. When does the illumination run?

A. It is scheduled for October 17, 2026 to May 31, 2027. December 23–25 is a special Christmas opening that requires date-specific tickets purchased in advance. Check the Nabana no Sato official website for the latest information.

Q. Can we see all three spots at a relaxed pace?

A. The 5 hours assume about 90 minutes at Nabana no Sato, 60 minutes at Jazz Dream Nagashima and 40 minutes at Rokkaen. If you’d like to prioritize a particular spot, the time allocation can be adjusted if you discuss it in advance.

Q. How long does it take from Nagoya to Nabana no Sato?

A. In the model course example, it takes about 60 minutes from departing Nagoya to arriving at Nabana no Sato. This may vary depending on road conditions.

Q. Up to how many people does the chartered taxi price stay the same?

A. The per-vehicle price is the same for up to 9 people. Admission is extra.

Q. When do cancellation fees apply?

A. Cancellation is free up to 3 days before your ride. 2–1 days before, the fee is 30% of the fare; from the day of until the scheduled pickup time, 50%; and after the pickup time, 100%.

8. Summary

Nabana no Sato is close to Nagoya and offers flowers, shopping and history in a single day.

You can mix and match: tour Nabana no Sato, Jazz Dream Nagashima and Rokkaen by chartered taxi during the day, and visit the evening illumination with the 24-hour transfer plan.

Nabana no Sato is all about the illumination. Enjoy it day and night without driving or hunting for parking. Choose the chartered taxi option that suits your plans.