Hello, everyone. Have you heard of a plant called Sagari-bana? Sagari-bana is known as a mysterious flower that blooms at night and falls by the next morning. From the end of July to early August, I guided customers through the mangroves at night and in the early morning to see the Sagari-bana. Although the 2024 Sagari-bana watching season has ended, today I’d like to introduce you to the charm of this unique flower.
What is Sagari-bana?
Sagari-bana is a plant native to tropical and subtropical regions. In Japan, it can be seen on Amami Oshima and Okinawa. Since it grows along mangroves and riverbanks, it is believed that the seeds are carried by ocean currents to spread to other islands. On Amami Oshima, it can be seen from the end of July for about a month, while on Iriomote Island in Okinawa, it blooms in June.
Tours in the Mangroves at Night or Early Morning
The best time to see Sagari-bana (Barringtonia racemosa) is from night to early morning. The night tour started at 7:30 PM, and the morning tour started at 6:00 AM. On the night tour, you can observe the flowers gradually blooming. As you paddle through the mangroves with a headlamp, you can see the beautiful white flowers blooming in the darkness.
During the morning tour, you can see the Sagari-bana flowers as they fall onto the water’s surface. The fallen flowers float, and you paddle your kayak through them. We also provided breakfast during the early morning tour, so we enjoyed sandwiches while watching the flowers.
Both tours offer a memorable experience that is limited to this season.
Tours Planned for 2025
We plan to conduct tours again at the end of July 2025. Although the schedule has not been set yet, if you’re interested, please contact us through the Morning Mangrove Kayaking Tour. The flower language of Sagari-bana is “happiness will come.” We conduct the tour with the hope that all participants will experience happiness.