LAS VEGAS, March 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/
-- Celebrating the exquisite beauty and tradition of
Japan, Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical
Gardens unveils its stunning spring display, on view through
June 15, featuring for the first time
an intricate replica of the Osaka Castle, one of Japan's most iconic landmarks.
Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8515551-mgm-bellagio-conservatory-botanical-gardens-japan-spring/
The Conservatory takes guests on a cultural journey through many
of the most vibrant elements associated with the Land of the Rising
Sun, including delicate cherry blossoms, elegant butterflies and
thousands of fresh tulips, calla lilies and chrysanthemums. The
spring display, featuring 65,000 fresh flowers, honors nature's
awakening and the bloom of a new season with Japanese influences
around every turn. Butterflies, a sign of good luck in love in
Japanese culture, are found flitting throughout the display, while
a traditional tea house honors the grace, etiquette and hospitality
of the age-old Japanese tea ceremony.
"Incorporating a replica of the stunning Osaka Castle into our
Conservatory allows us the unique opportunity to share a piece of
Japanese culture with tens of thousands of visitors each day," said
Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM
Resorts International. "We aim to spark conversation and curiosity
about this remarkable country and this storied castle."
Upon entering the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, the
stunning 30-foot-high Osaka Castle replica stands in the center of
the West Bed. Recreated in precise detail, the Edo-era landmark
features shining golden trim and is flanked by two Japanese-style
stone lanterns, illuminating the path to the castle. Colorful
butterflies flutter throughout the bed which includes intricate
topiaries made up of 2,000 fresh-cut carnations. Just below the
castle, a waterfall flows into a wide pond accented by three lively
fountains, a nod to Bellagio's world-renowned water feature along
the Las Vegas Strip.
To ensure the display accurately conveyed the historical and
cultural significance of the iconic Osaka Castle, designer
Ed Libby and Bellagio's horticulture
team collaborated with Japan-based
producer Noriko Minai and her team
at Dentsu Live Inc. to bring the vision to life with a precise
combination of colors and flowers. The creative process included
several months of reviewing detailed visual assets and models of
the castle to create a masterpiece that was true to life and also
uniquely Bellagio.
Noriko Minai, Chief Producer at
Dentsu Live Inc., said, "I am honored to be part of this project,
which will attract thousands of visitors in Las Vegas. It is a very precious opportunity
for us to introduce one of Japan's
historical and cultural treasures to visitors coming from all over
the world. I hope those who enjoy this spring display become more
interested in visiting Osaka and
Japan."
As visitors enter the East Bed of the Conservatory, they are
greeted by the beautiful blooms of cherry blossom trees, lining a
stone pathway accented with spring gates. As they wander through
the gates, the sweet scent of delicate cherry blossoms fills the
air, while two massive Japanese paradise flycatcher birds "fly"
overhead, in perpetual flight.
In the South Bed, glowing Japanese celebration lanterns hang
over a waterfall amid a collection of intricately designed pottery.
Decorated with lush green, pink and blue lentils, the color palette
of the vases evokes the signature hues of spring. Four-foot-tall
lanterns are suspended overhead, glowing over the graceful koi
swimming in the pond below.
Nearby in the North Bed, two 18-foot red-crowned Japanese cranes
tower over blooming lotus flowers in various stages of life. The
cranes are inspired by the popular One Hundred Famous Views of
Edo, one of a series of ukiyo-e prints by Japanese artist
Hiroshige. In Japanese culture, the crane symbolizes longevity and
strength, while the lotus flowers are honored for their ability to
bloom from the mud of a murky pond – a process that symbolizes
enlightenment. Designed to replicate a legendary tea house that
debuted at the 1893 World Fair in Chicago, a traditional tea house sits just
beyond the pond, set for a time-honored tea ceremony.
With more than 19 million residents, Osaka is the second largest city in
Japan and the center of commerce
in the western part of the nation. Dating back to the
7th century, Osaka is
rapidly becoming a global tourist destination renowned for its
great food, history and people. MGM Resorts has declared
Osaka as the number one candidate
for the development of an integrated casino resort after
Japan legalized casinos in 2018.
Osaka has been chosen as the host
city of the World Expo 2025, with MGM Resorts as the proud sponsor
of the bid. The representation of the Osaka Castle within the
Bellagio Conservatory is a celebration of this wonderful Japanese
city designed for millions of Las
Vegas visitors to enjoy daily.
The Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is open 24 hours a day,
seven days a week and is complimentary to the public.
Bellagio's spring Conservatory reflects MGM Resorts
International's commitment to celebrating Japanese culture with
visitors from around the world. Also featured at the resort are two
installations by internationally celebrated artist Yayoi Kusama, Infinity Mirrored
Room: Aftermath of Obliteration of
Eternity and Narcissus Garden, both on display
at Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art through June 30.
About Bellagio
Inspired by the beautiful villages of
Europe, the AAA Five Diamond
Bellagio Resort & Casino overlooks a Mediterranean-blue, 8
½-acre lake in which fountains perform a magnificent aquatic
ballet. Award-winning dining, a world-class art gallery, the
exquisite Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, the stunning
performance of "O" by Cirque du Soleil, a sumptuous spa and
salon and exclusive luxury shopping all work together to compose
the symphony that is Bellagio. Bellagio is owned by MGM Resorts
International (NYSE: MGM). For more information and reservations,
visit bellagio.com, call toll free at (888) 987-6667 or find us on
Facebook and Twitter.
About the Osaka Castle
One of Japan's most famous landmarks, the Osaka
Castle is a prolific monument and museum with a storied history
spanning six centuries. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a legendary samurai
warrior, completed initial construction of the castle in 1597,
creating one of the most impressive structures in the country at
the time with a five-story main tower, three underground levels and
gold leaf edging the tower to impress visitors. The castle was
burned and reconstructed multiple times, though some elements,
including walls built in the 1620s, are still standing today. A
dramatic restoration project was undertaken in the 1990s to rebuild
the tower in the spirit of its Edo-era magnificence, resulting in a
fully functional modern museum that opened in 1997 and educates
millions of Japanese and international visitors each
year.
![Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas celebrates Japan with vibrant spring display through June 15, featuring replica of iconic Osaka Castle and 65,000 fresh flowers Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas celebrates Japan with vibrant spring display through June 15, featuring replica of iconic Osaka Castle and 65,000 fresh flowers](https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8515551-mgm-bellagio-conservatory-botanical-gardens-japan-spring/image/BellagioPhoto1_1553083894110-HR.jpg)
![Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas celebrates Japan with vibrant spring display through June 15, featuring replica of iconic Osaka Castle and 65,000 fresh flowers Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas celebrates Japan with vibrant spring display through June 15, featuring replica of iconic Osaka Castle and 65,000 fresh flowers](https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8515551-mgm-bellagio-conservatory-botanical-gardens-japan-spring/image/BellagioPhoto2_1553083970568-HR.jpg)
![Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas celebrates Japan with vibrant spring display through June 15, featuring replica of iconic Osaka Castle and 65,000 fresh flowers Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas celebrates Japan with vibrant spring display through June 15, featuring replica of iconic Osaka Castle and 65,000 fresh flowers](https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8515551-mgm-bellagio-conservatory-botanical-gardens-japan-spring/image/BellagioPhoto3_1553084058933-HR.jpg)
![Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas celebrates Japan with vibrant spring display through June 15, featuring replica of iconic Osaka Castle and 65,000 fresh flowers Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas celebrates Japan with vibrant spring display through June 15, featuring replica of iconic Osaka Castle and 65,000 fresh flowers](https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8515551-mgm-bellagio-conservatory-botanical-gardens-japan-spring/image/BellagioPhoto4_1553084112286-HR.jpg)
![Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas celebrates Japan with vibrant spring display through June 15, featuring replica of iconic Osaka Castle and 65,000 fresh flowers Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas celebrates Japan with vibrant spring display through June 15, featuring replica of iconic Osaka Castle and 65,000 fresh flowers](https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8515551-mgm-bellagio-conservatory-botanical-gardens-japan-spring/image/BellagioPhoto5_1553084188847-HR.jpg)
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SOURCE MGM Resorts International