Akatsuka Orchid Gardens Tours

Enjoy a rush of color and fragrance as you enter Hawaii the Big Island’s Akatsuka Orchid Gardens. Brimming with flowers, exhibits, and hands-on activities, the immersive experience is as meticulously curated as the orchids themselves. See more than 500 orchids, learn the growing process, dine in the greenhouse, and plant an orchid to take home.
The Basics
Wind your way through the Orchid Maze at your own pace or book a guided Farm Tour and Tasting. If you are interested in a deep dive on the tropical flowers, join the latter for a chance to tour the greenhouse, learn about orchid cultivation, and get dirty by planting your own orchid souvenir. Mid-day tours include a locally sourced lunch served in the greenhouse topped off with handmade poha berry ice cream.
The Akatsuka Orchid Gardens are a popular stop on many tours of the Big Island and can be visited alongside other nearby attractions such as Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Rainbow Falls, and black-sand beaches.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Akatsuka Orchid Gardens are ideal for gardening enthusiasts and are a great rainy day activity for everyone.
- You must book tours and greenhouse lunches in advance.
- The Orchid Maze is free to enter and walk-ins are welcome.
- The showroom and gift shop are accessible to wheelchair users.
How to Get There
The gardens are located between Hilo and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Highway 11 in the town of Volcano. If you have a car, the gardens are an easy stop on the way to the national park. You can also join a group tour that includes a visit to the gardens.
When to Get There
The Akatsuka Orchid Gardens are open 10am to 4:30pm Monday through Saturday, and are closed Sunday and major holidays. Farm Tour and Tastings are offered Tuesday through Friday at 11am (lunch and ice cream included) and 2pm (includes ice cream but no lunch). Orchids bloom in the garden year-round, but to see a prized $20,000 orchid in bloom visit between May and August.
The Origins of the Akatsuka Orchid Gardens
The Akatsuka Orchid Gardens were founded in 1974 by Moriyasu Akatsuka, who developed his skills and love for orchids at his family-run orchid nursery in Japan prior to creating the farm in Hawaii. Akatsuka acquires plants from across the globe and cultivates hybrid offspring, breeding a unique collection of orchids that he displays and sells. His most famous orchid, named Volcano Queen, was brought to the Big Island from Thailand and is valued at $20,000.
Address: 11-3051 Volcano Road, Volcano, Hawaii, USA
10 Tours and Activities to Experience Akatsuka Orchid Gardens
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Volcanoes Adventure Tour from Hilo
Embark on an epic adventure on this Volcanoes National Park tour from Hilo. Journey into the largest and most active volcano on earth with your friendly, professional guide, and pay a visit to the Richardson Blacksand Beach. Learn about the incredible landscapes that roll out before you and gain insight into the geological and ecological implications of Mother Nature on this stunning park. See the Akatsuka Orchid Nursery, Rainbow Falls, the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory and so much more on this memorable tour that hits so many of Hawaii's hot spots.
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Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is a blockbuster sight on the Big Island, but reaching the park from the Hilo port on your own can be time consuming. With this driving tour, save hours with port pickup and head straight to the park’s highlights, including the steam vents and Kilauea Caldera overlook. This leaves enough time to visit the Akatsuka Orchid Gardens, Hilo Coffee Mill, and Mauna Loa macadamia farm.
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Explore the world’s most active volcano on a private tour around Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. See the billowing Kilauea Volcano, the most active volcano in the world. Walk through a rain forest and into a lava tube. Drive down Chain of Craters Road, a winding 19-mile stretch through the East Rift of the park with several scenic stops along the way. See the famous black sand beach, the 80-foot-tall Rainbow Falls, the Boiling Pots, and much more. All National Park fees, plus a hotel pickup and drop-off are included.
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Private Shore Excursion Tour - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Avoid the restrictive itinerary of a group tour and enjoy personalized exploration of Hawaii’s volcanic landscape on a private day tour of Volcanoes National Park. Arrange departure to suit you and save time navigating with round-trip transfer from Hilo. See the active Kīlauea volcano, explore ground that was once molten rock, and follow the natural trail to the ocean, with further opportunities to visit nearby volcanic beaches and falls.
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Volcanoes National Park - from Kona
Experience some of Hilo’s top destinations on this guided excursion from Kona. After a convenient hotel pickup, learn about the area’s magnificent scenery from a knowledgeable local guide and visit sites like Volcano National Park, Akatsuka Orchid Gardens, Hilo Coffee Mill, Rainbow Falls, and Mauna Kea State Recreation Area. Enjoy complimentary water, snacks, and lunch along the way.
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Volcanoes Adventure Tour From Kona
Embark on an epic adventure with this Volcanoes National Park tour from Kona. You'll journey into the largest and most active volcano on earth with your friendly, professional guide, and pay a visit to the Richardson Blacksand Beach. You'll learn about the incredible landscapes that roll out before you and gain insight into the geological and ecological implications of Mother Nature on this stunning park. See the Akatsuke Orchid Nursery, Rainbow Falls, the Maunaloa Macadamia Nut Factory and so much more on this memorable tour that hits so many of Hawaii's hot spots.
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Orchid Gardens Tour and Tasting
Find your ‘green thumb’ during this behind-the-scenes visit to a Big Island orchid garden and greenhouse. Enjoy the fragrant scent of more than 1,000 flowers as you follow an expert grower on a orchid-themed tour. View plants in different stages of development, see how they’re bred, and even get to plant one of your own. A baby orchid souvenir is also included.
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Discover Legends of Rainbow Falls and Hike Volcanoes National Park
Immerse yourself in the local culture and history of Hawai'i! With the help of your local guide, some of the most intriguing places on the Big Island come to life with stories of their creation and ancient legends.
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Ultimate Private Hilo Excursion: Volcanoes, Waterfall, Black Sand, Winery
Spend the day among some of Hawaii’s natural wonders at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Explore Kilauea crater—Hawaii’s most active volcano—walk through giant fern forests, and learn about the native plants and animal species who live here. Then visit the 30-acre Queen Liliuokalani Japanese Gardens, see the thundering waterfalls at Rainbow Falls State Park, and stop at Akatsuka Orchid Gardens, in an expansive orchid farm with incredibly rare specimens. Leave the logistics and driving to your guide and get a link to photos of the day taken by your guide.
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Private Kona Coast to Hilo & Volcanoes National Park Mercedes Sprinter Van
This private 9-hour adventure from the Kona Coast to Volcanoes National Park is just the way to spend your time on the Big Island of Hawaii. With transportation taken care of for you, you can stop and see spots that strike an interest with you. See Rainbow Falls, Liliuokalani Park and Gardens, Richardson Ocean Park, Onomea Bay, Thurston Lava Tube, and the Volcanoes National Park. When booking, it’s easy to switch up this tour’s itinerary with a quick note to the tour operator, so you can have a day trip you’ve always dreamed of.
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Face masks required for travelers in public areas
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