A vivid paradise beckons in the Tropical Dream Center, the awe-inspiring glasshouse complex in Ocean Expo Park. Exquisite orchids from all over the world can be seen blooming year-round in this tropical Eden. Explore three vast greenhouses and find over 2,000 orchid plants, ranging from miniature ground cover species to flamboyant tropical blossoms. There is also a wide variety of other tropical and subtropical plant species, such as bromeliads, water lilies, palms and fruit trees.
Grab a map on your way into the Tropical Dream Center and begin navigating your way around the leafy garden. The complex’s design incorporates the large glasshouses and a rambling outdoor garden with a pond. You’ll soon be in botanical bliss when you go for a stroll around the park’s paved pathways. See bougainvillea vines blooming orange and pink, as well as pretty camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons.
Enter one of the glasshouses and you’ll immediately be transported to a green oasis rivaling the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. See pretty terracotta pots topped with orchids in tones of blushing pink, yellow and red. Stunning South American varieties crane toward the light with their large blooms, while intricate and rare species can be seen in special pots. Lush epiphytes and ferns overhang the dazzling blooms, creating a wall of vivid foliage.
Continue to the next greenhouse to see irises and bromeliads. Tall palms tower overhead. Within one glasshouse, you’ll find a tranquil pond dotted with water lilies and other aquatic plants. Rent an audio-guide device to learn more about the plants on display, or join the free guided tour that departs daily from the information desk.
Return to the open lawns and relax on the grass. There is a small pavilion by the outdoor pond, where you can enjoy a wide view of the gardens. Alternatively, make your way to the spiral-shaped brick tower and find the observation platform at the top. Stop by the restaurant or café to have a meal during your visit.
The Tropical Dream Center is located within Ocean Expo Park in the Yamakawa neighborhood of the Kunigami district. Reach the glasshouse complex within a 15-minute walk or 5-minute trolley ride from Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. It is open daily and there is an admission fee.
