Ayabe: Roses, Culture and Architecture

If you’re looking for a hotel in Ayabe, you can start planning your trip with the themes that will shape your stay: getting there and finding your way around, a seasonal rose garden, or cultural history and architecture. The visitor attractions offer different highlights. First decide which destinations matter to your trip, then check how far they are from the hotel you choose.

Getting there and finding your way around

There are several ways to get to Ayabe Gunze Square: it’s about a five-minute drive from Ayabe IC and about ten minutes from Ayabe-Ankokuji IC. It’s roughly a ten-minute walk from the north exit of Ayabe Station. From the south exit, the Aya Bus goes to the “Ayabe Gunze Square” stop, right at the destination. For your visit to the Square, you can therefore plan to drive, walk from the station’s north exit, or take the bus from the south exit. These travel times are approximate; check the connections for the day of your visit.

Ayaterasu was completed in November 2023, north of JR Ayabe Station. The facility brings together a library, Ayakko Hiroba and a hall. If you’re finding your bearings at the station, the location description may help: Ayaterasu is to the north. Its three functions make it a distinct place to visit, separate from the garden and visitor attractions at Ayabe Gunze Square.

Roses and visitor attractions

Ayabe Gunze Square is Ayabe City’s community exchange center. It includes the Ayabe Specialty Store, the Gunze Museum and the Ayabe Rose Garden. Visitors can find a place to rest and tourist information there; local specialties and agricultural products are also available as souvenirs. Product availability may vary. The Square combines practical visitor services with a range of themes that you can include in your plans according to your interests.

The Ayabe Rose Garden is part of Ayabe Gunze Square. It features 170 varieties of roses in bloom in spring and autumn, and also hosts a spring rose festival. When planning your trip, it’s worth distinguishing between the blooming season and the festival dates: the two seasons refer to the roses in bloom, while you should check the specific dates of the festival in advance. This lets you plan your visit around the season you prefer or the event date, without treating them as the same thing.

Gunze history and architecture

The Gunze Museum focuses on the history of Gunze, the company founded in Ayabe. It is presented in three museums: “創業蔵,” “現代蔵” and “未来蔵.” This makes the museum a distinct destination for travelers interested in corporate history. Another historical connection dates back to 1892, when the religious organization Ōmoto began its missionary work in Ayabe.

At Ōmoto Baishōen, a garden and historic architecture come together. Its buildings include Chōseiden, Mirokuden and Konohana-an, a former residence. Chōseiden is described as one of the largest wooden buildings of the 20th century. Mirokuden is registered as a national tangible cultural property; Konohana-an is designated a national important cultural property. Reservations are required to visit the interiors of the buildings. If you plan to visit the interiors, take this requirement into account as you prepare.

The directions to Ayabe Gunze Square can help you plan this visit; check travel information separately for other destinations.

Discover more destinations: Soraku District, Fukuchiyama, Kasagi, Nantan, Wazuka, Kyoto, Nagaoka-Kyō, Seika.

For the wider travel overview: Kyoto Prefecture.