Looking for places to go this summer? Well, if you want something unique then head for Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Right in front of Lake Hamana, the Shizuoka International Garden and Horticulture Exhibition is taking place and there you can see 6,000 varieties of flowers and other plants. Also known as Pacific Flora 2004, the international flower exhibition started April 8 (it ends Oct. 11) and has already attracted more than 2.9 million visitors, ogling at the flora spread over a space 12 times the size of Tokyo Dome.
Pacific Flora 2004 is a bit different from your usual botanical gardens. It's not just about seeing beautiful flowers or increasing your knowledge of botany. Visitors can also learn something about different cultures and lifestyles while wandering around the 12 pavilions and the gardens.