The arrival of summer in Fukushima is heralded by the sweet fragrances and vivid colours of plants in full bloom. While the prefecture is renowned primarily for its high quality fruit and vegetables, there are also a number of farms in the region specialising in the cultivation of herbs. The Miharu Farm Herb Garden, a sprawling 70,000 square metre garden lovers' paradise located on the outskirts of Koriyama in Miharu-machi, is one such place. With a collection of over 350 different varieties of herb, the garden is well known both within and without the prefecture, with visitors from all over the country among the 180,000 people who pass through its grounds yearly. Created seven years ago by a group of Miharu residents who began growing herbs for fun, the garden quickly expanded, as did staff numbers. From its small beginnings with only ten employees, the business has grown to the point where it now has a payroll of approximately one hundred. The Miharu Farm Herb Garden prides itself on its "hands on" policy - something which differentiates it from other such gardens which discourage visitors from touching their plants. The garden was made with the objective of teaching people about herbs and their uses, and as the primary characteristic of herbs are their smell, the garden's owners encourage people to touch and rub the leaves of the plants in order to enjoy their fragrance. The herb garden holds several special events throughout the year to coincide with the seasons for different types of herbs. By far the most popular is the Lavender Fair held every June. More than forty types of lavender are featured, and classes on everything from cooking with lavender to the use of lavender oil are offered. Miharu is also the only place in the country where visitors can enter gardens and pick their own lavender. Other events include the Summer Fair - a food festival held in August, a "concert under the stars" where people can relax with a picnic in the gardens while listening to jazz music (also in August) and the "Herb Garden Christmas" in December. Regular activities include classes on flower arranging, Christmas wreath making, making pressed leaves and the use of aromatherapy and essential oils.

The garden itself is divided into several sections, including an "English - style" garden, a rock garden, a fruit garden and a rose garden. Although herbs are the centrepiece, many of them do not flower, and for this reason, flowers have been added to the garden for aesthetic purposes. Vegetables such as zucchini and tomotoes are also grown and sold at the garden's food shop in addition to other homemade foods such as herb sausages, herb sauces, seasonings and dressings. Visitors can also enjoy these freshly grown products at Parterre, the garden's restaurant. The selection of mouthwatering dishes on offer - all the chefs' original creations - utilise the freshly grown herbs and vegetables, and the menu changes regularly according to the season. A selection of herb goods ranging from pot pourri, essential oils and dried flowers to cookies, cakes and teas can also be purchased at the main shop, while at the adjacent Green Shop, those with a green thumb can buy seeds , plants, pots and other gardening supplies to create their own herb gardens at home. The Miharu Farm Herb Garden is located ten minutes south east of Koriyama Station beyond the Koriyama City Art Museum. Buses run between the garden and the station throughout the day from April to November. Open every day except Tuesdays, the entrance fee is 500 yen for adults and 300 yen for elementary school students. Contact details are ph. 024-942-7939 and fax 024-942-7941.