Japan is known for its beautiful cherry blossoms that bloom during spring, but if you think that there's only cherry blossoms that can be found in Japan... think again! Thanks to its four seasons, locals and tourists can feast their eyes on the different flowers that change alongside the season. Pretty cool huh??
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We've rounded up the different blossoms that you'll have to see in these parks for your next trip to Japan!
1. Furano Flower Fields, Hokkaido
Furano city is located in the central region of Hokkaido, which is between the Tokachi and Yubari mountain ranges! Aside from being famous for its ski resorts, Furano is also well known for its lavender fields?
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In the month of May, you'll get to see Lupines and Tulips. In June, there are Blue Salvia and Poppies. From late June onwards, the early Lavender begins to bloom, and by mid-July that's where it reaches its peak season! From August to September, you'll get to feast your eyes on lovely salvias and cosmos?
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The best spot to view the lavenders would be from Farm Tomita, where lavender and flower fields with the Tokachi mountain range as backdrop are absolutely spectacular!
Opening hours: 8:30 to 6:00pm (shorter hours outside summer)
Entrance fee: 1200 Yen for a day pass or 1500 Yen
Address: 15 Go Nakafurano Kisen Kita, Sorachi District, Hokkaido Prefecture 071-0704, Japan
Best time to visit: June & September
2. Cherry Blossoms and Azaleas at Mifuneyama Rakuen
Located in Saga prefecture in the Kyushu region of southern Japan, at this large garden is where you'll see over 5,000 sakura trees and 5,000 azaleas blooming in spring! In autumn, you'll be greeted with a stunning view of each red leaf and the whole park would be painted in hues of pink, white, red, and purple?
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It’s easy to spend hours strolling around and just taking in the beautiful view, whether it's in the day or at night?
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The park also hosts a variety of events such as tea parties and photography sessions! P.S. Did you know that Mifuneyama Rakuen is listed as one of 30 reasons to go to Japan before you die??
Opening hours: 8:00am to 6:00pm (depends on the season)
Entrance fee: 400 Yen (Adult) 200 Yen (Child) (depends on the season)
Address: 4100 Takeocho Takeo | Mifuneyama Southwest side, Takeo 843-0022, Saga Prefecture
Best time to visit: Mid to late November
3. Nemophila Baby Blue's Eyes, Hitachi Seaside Park
Nestled in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki prefecture, Hitachi Seaside Park is a popular tourist destination for flower lovers! Here, you'll get to enjoy a variety of flowers throughout the year but an absolute favourite of the locals and tourists is the Nemophilia Baby Blue's Eyes where you can see the park being painted in a lovely shade of blue?
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From the month of April to May, more than 4.5 million nemophila bloom on a hectare hill in the park, which will create a beautiful contrast with the pale blue sky!
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Although nemophilas are the most well-known of the park's flowers, other type of flowers bloom throughout most of the year as well?
Opening hours: 8:00am to 6:00pm (depends on the season)
Entrance fee: USD$4 (Adult), USD$2 (Child) (depends on the season)
Best time to visit: April to May
4. Kochia, Kochia Hills
Every autumn, thousands of Kochia bushes turn into a beautiful crimson colour on Miharashi no oka “lookout hill” , which is located inside of Hitachi Seaside Park in Japan?
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A Kochia Carnival is usually held in the month of September as that's when Kochias bloom into a brilliant red colour! If you're visiting the Kochia Hills, you can experience the park’s unique autumn colours and walk amongst the red Kochia bushes.
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Opening hours: 8:00am to 6:00pm (depends on the season)
Entrance fee: USD$4 (Adult) USD$2 (Child) (depends on the season)
Best time to visit: September to October
5. Himawari fields, Hitachi Seaside Park
In Japan, sunflower is a symbol for summer! So when you're at Himawari (which is sunflower in Japanese) fields, you'll definitely find yourself walking on sunshine when you're here?
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Sunflowers were grown for the development of health foods in Japan but because of their beauty, it has made them into a tourist attraction! These flowers are perfect for the summer season because of their bright yellow colours that will surely brighten up your day?
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The best method to get around Hitachi Seaside Park is by foot. There are also walking trails to guide you to the different areas that other flowers are at, so don't worry about getting lost!
Opening hours: 8:00am to 6:00pm (depends on the season)
Entrance fee: USD$4 (Adult) USD$2 (Child) (depends on the season)
Best time to visit: mid-August
6. Phlox Flowers, Hitsujiyama Park
Phlox flowers are a beautiful sight usually when it thickly carpets the ground! At Hitsujiyama Park, there's a hill called "Shibazakura no oka" which means the creeping phlox hill. From there, you'll get to feast your eyes on the whole of Chichibu City☺️
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From mid-April until early-May, about 400,000 creeping phlox flowers bloom in a colorful design. Aside from phlox flowers, cherry trees bloom in that season as well so there is no question as to why tourists like to visit during the spring season!
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Opening hours: 8.00am - 5.00pm
Entrance fee: Free (During Shibazakura season: USD$3)
Best time to visit: Mid-April to early May
7. Wisteria Tunnels, Kawachi Wisteria Garden
Surrounded with maple trees, this private garden is popular for its large number of wisteria flowers! At the top of the hillside garden, you'll get to gaze over the sea of wisteria flowers and its surrounding valley which makes up a pretty sight, if you ask us?
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The opening time of the park varies each year, but in spring it is usually open from late April to mid-May and in autumn from mid-November to mid-December. The best time to visit to see the wisterias is in early May and for the autumn colors, late November!
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The garden's most prominent features are the two tunnels that are made of wisteria trees of differing varieties and colours, ranging from white to dark purple! Furthermore, there is a collection of large wisteria trees that together form an enormous roof of drooping flowers.
Opening hours: 8.00am - 6.00pm
Entrance fee: USD$3 - USD$9 (depends on season)
Best time to visit: Early May for wisterias, late November for autumn colours
8. Cosmos Flowers, Taiyo-no-Oka Engaru Park, Hokkaido
This field of cosmos is one of the largest in Japan, with over 10 million cosmos flowers blooming in a field larger than 100 thousand square meters! Pink, yellow, orange, and white flowers are also called autumn Sakura, which represents the fall season in Japan?
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What's interesting about these flowers is that the number of the colours varies according to the different kinds of flowers!
Credit: Hideyuki Kamon on Flickr
The cosmoses are in full bloom from late August to late September, so now you know when to visit this park?
Opening hours: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Entrance fee:USD$3 (Adult), USD$2 (Child)
Best time to visit: late August to late September
So, there you have it! Japan has the best gardens to explore so get ready to immerse yourself in the beauty of these flowers this city has to offer!