okinawa is known for its warm and agreeable climate where many things can grow, but when one travels the prefectural roads it is sometimes hard to see the natural scenery because this subtropical island also seems to favor the growth of buildings. At the Southeast Botanical Gardens, a paradise oasis located near Kadena Air Base in okinawa City, one can see the full potential of beautiful flowers, plants and trees that okinawa has to offer. Owner Masamune Obayashi, originally from Taiwan, brought in many types of plants from Asia, Central and South America, Africa, and Australia to create what must be like the Garden of Eden of okinawa.

The gardens, which are home to over 2,000 species of plants and cover an area of about 400,000 square meters(100 acres), are an attraction that should be on the list of spots to visit for all who come to okinawa. The collection of 450 species of palms(the largest in Japan), the exotic flowers and fruit trees, the Polynesian Lake with its thousands of carp and most recently the Insect Specimen Gallery displaying countless numbers of butterflies and beetles are part of the total garden experience.