The Yokohama Flower Expo Liaison Council held “FLOWER Fes 2026 FINAL” on June 20–21 at the site of the former Kamiseya Communications Facility in Yokohama. The site of the former Kamiseya Communications Facility is also the planned venue for “GREEN×EXPO 2027,” which is set to open on March 19, 2027. FLOWER Fes was first held in 2023 as a countdown event to build momentum for GREEN×EXPO 2027 and has been held annually since then. This fourth edition—as the name “FLOWER Fes 2026 FINAL” suggests—was held on the largest scale to date as the final FLOWER Fes leading up to GREEN×EXPO 2027, with approximately nine months remaining until its opening. Shuttle buses ran from the nearest station, “Seya” on the Sotetsu Main Line, to the venue, making it an excellent opportunity to test out transportation options for GREEN×EXPO 2027. I attended on the first day and will report on the event and how to get there.
Far from the Station? Examining Venue Access—One of the Challenges Facing GREEN×EXPO 2027 The Kamiseya Communications Facility was originally used as a base by the Imperial Japanese Navy. After the war, the United States took it over and operated it as a U.S. Navy base in Japan. The entire facility and land were returned to Japan on June 30, 2015. The total area is approximately 242 ha, of which about 100 ha on the southern side will be used as the venue for GREEN×EXPO 2027. This year’s FLOWER Fes 2026 FINAL was held in the northwestern part of the planned venue site. Although it was not within the venue gates as they will be during the actual event, since it took place in the northern parking lot adjacent to the venue, it can effectively be considered a corner of the planned venue site. At last year’s Osaka-Kansai Expo, the new Osaka Metro station, Yumeshima Station, opened right near the East Gate, making it easily accessible for staff and visitors; however, the lack of a station immediately adjacent to the venue is a challenge for GREEN×EXPO 2027. The four nearest stations are Seya Station on the Sagami Railway Sotetsu Main Line, Mitsukyo Station on the Sagami Railway Sotetsu Main Line, Tokaichiba Station on the JR Yokohama Line, and Minami-Machida Granberry Park Station on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line; however, even Seya Station—the closest to the venue—is about 2 km away. Although shuttle buses are scheduled to run from these four stations to the venue, concerns remain as to whether smooth access will be possible for the venue, which is expected to attract up to 105,000 visitors per day. The shuttle bus ride from Seya Station to the venue takes about 10 minutes. There will be three boarding bays (stops where buses can arrive and depart), and the frequency is expected to be approximately 20 to 40 buses per hour. Shuttle buses also ran from Seya Station to the venue during this year’s FLOWER Fes 2026 FINAL, and since that route is presumed to be nearly identical to the one for the actual GREEN×EXPO 2027, it served as an excellent opportunity for simulation. On June 20, when I attended, it had been raining on and off since the morning—at times quite heavily—but by the time I arrived at Seya Station around 10:20 a.m., the rain had stopped. Exiting the North Exit of Seya Station and walking straight along the wide sidewalk for a short distance, the Seya Station North Exit Bus Terminal comes into view on the right. A shuttle bus stop had been set up at this North Exit Bus Terminal. The shuttle buses for FLOWER Fes 2026 FINAL ran approximately every 10 minutes, and on June 20, the first bus departed at 10:00 a.m. I boarded the shuttle bus departing at 10:30. With a capacity of about 70 passengers, it was nearly full. The driver drove carefully and at a moderate speed, but as anticipated in the GREEN×EXPO 2027 visitor transportation plan, we arrived at the venue in about 10 minutes. If you walk from Seya Station to the GREEN×EXPO 2027 venue, you will generally follow the same route as the bus. Exit the north exit of Seya Station, turn left at the end of the street, turn right at the intersection with the main road, and continue straight ahead. It was raining this time, so I didn’t actually walk the route myself, but I spoke with someone who had walked from Seya Station to the venue, and they said it took less than 30 minutes even at a leisurely pace. A brisk walker could likely reach the venue in about 20 minutes. Shuttle buses may take longer to arrive depending on traffic conditions and the number of visitors. If the weather is good, walking from Seya Station to the venue is a viable option. However, walking from the three other stations to the venue is not highly recommended, as the distance is much longer.
The Flower Area features numerous floral installations and photo backdrops. Now, here’s a report on the FLOWER Fes 2026 FINAL. At the venue entrance, there were floral installations and photo backdrops featuring “Bunbun,” the mascot of the Yokohama Flower Expo Liaison Council, and student volunteers were on hand to help visitors take commemorative photos.
© Source travel watch