AWAJI ISLAND, Hyogo Pref. -- Under a bright sunny sky and with a cool breeze blowing off the bay, the Japan Flora 2000 international flower, gardening and landscape exhibition opened Saturday morning on Awaji Island.
Sponsored and supported by Hyogo Prefecture, the agriculture and construction ministries, and the International Association of Horticultural Producers, Japan Flora 2000 is the largest exhibition of its type to be held in Japan since the 1990 Osaka Expo.
Over 14,000 visitors reportedly poured through the gates during the first half hour and Hyogo officials said that several thousand more were expected by the end of the day.