Central Japan Kanto Travel Guide

Hitachi Seaside Park | Visit Ibaraki

Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki prefecture is an excellent place to visit on your trip to Japan. It’s famous for its blue nemophila, and kochia. This is a spacious seaside park that offers something for everyone.

Often people say it as a flower paradise. Why not?! About 4.5 million nemophila plants reach in full bloom in late April in the spring. While on the other hand, plenty of kochias (Kokia) and cosmoses can be observed from the beginning of October through late October.

Spring is arguably the best time to visit Hitachi Seaside Park! Photo Credit: Jonathan Lin at Flickr.

The park can be divided into several distinct areas such as Miharashi area, West Entrance area, Forest area, Grassland area, and so on. Each of these areas features mind-blogging seasonal landscapes of different kinds. The park hosts a number of flower festivals that are held throughout the year to admire its outstanding natural beauty.

When I think of Ibaraki Prefecture, my mind goes to the Hitachi Seaside Park along with Fukuroda Falls, and Kairaku-en Garden in Mito. These are my three favorite places in Ibaraki where I can go over and over again. I can tell you many reasons why one should pay a visit to this spectacular park blessed with seasonal flowers and outdoor activities throughout the year.

This is obviously an inspiring landmark for nature lovers to see. From the floral extravaganza that is Miharashi area of the park to the beautiful amusement park and the grassland area, Hitachi Seaside Park is one of the most popular places in Japan to see different kinds of flowers. The park is quite a nice place to visit as a day trip from Tokyo, and it’s not surprising to see a big crowd over the weekends.

Hitachi Seaside Park’s Access Information

A picturesque view in autumn. Photo Credit: t.kunikuni at Flickr

You can find Hitachi Seaside Park 130 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, making it a perfect place to get a bit of the outdoors in on a more urban-focused vacation. You can reach it by taking the JR Joban Line to Katsuta Station. The trip is about 80 minutes.

When you reach Katsuta Station, take a bus 15 minutes to the park. Alternatively, during spring and autumn there are direct highway buses that connect Tokyo with Hitachi Seaside Park.

Once there, you’ll find plenty of things to do and see. Let’s explore some of the highlights of the park.

Things to do in Hitachi Seaside Park

Nemophila of Hitachi Seaside Park, Ibaraki. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

The park’s most iconic flower is the blue nemophila (baby blue eyes). This sky blue flower covers Miharashi Hill in the spring. It’s an image that’s hard to beat – it almost looks like the hill has been covered over by the sky. When these blue flowers start to bloom, a flower festival, Nemophila Harmony is held from late April to mid May.

The flowers typically look the best from late April to the middle of May. There are walking paths that crisscross over the hill. They not only give you a chance to walk through the flowers but also provide some amazing views of the Pacific Ocean as well as the rest of the park.

Kochias in the fall. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

If you can’t make the blue nemophila bloom, kochia bushes cover Miharashi Hill in the fall and they will slowly turn red over the course of the autumn. The colors are usually at their best from early to mid-October. And even if you miss both the blue nemophila and the red kochia, you can still see many other flowers on the hill throughout the year, including striking cosmos, early blooming daffodils, roses, sunflowers, and lovely tulip blooms.

Please note if you come to Ibaraki in the fall to see glorious looking kochia, don’t leave the area without a visit to Fukuroda Falls. This incredible waterfall is considered one of the best fall foliage viewing spot in Japan. And I assure you that your visit to the waterfall will be unforgettable. I bet you!

Beautiful tulips garden. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

There is also a small amusement park in Hitachi Seaside Park with over 25 attractions and fun rides, including putter gold, a BMX course, a-100 meter tall Ferris wheel, and a roller coaster.  There are also many rest areas and restaurants throughout the park, as well as a picnic designated area. You can also rent bikes to take a ride on the many cycling paths throughout the park.

You definitely will not want to miss taking a walk through the walking trails found across the park. They are charming at the same time take you to see stunning vistas including a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.

Pink cosmos! Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

On top of all these reasons to go to Hitachi Seaside Park, there is also the Rock in Japan Festival held at the park in August. This three-day long festival is one of the biggest in Japan, featuring many J-Rock and J-Pop acts.  There are also many other seasonal events, including the Pokka Poka Winter Fair and the Tobikkiri Summer Fair.

If you’re headed to Japan, take the time to go to Hitachi Seaside Park. It has so much to offer for everyone throughout the whole year. Even if it’s out of your way, it’s well worth taking a day to visit.

A few things to know about Ibaraki Prefecture

Fukuroda Falls in Autumn. Photo Credit: Σ64 at Wikimedia Commons.

Situated in the northeastern part of Kanto region, Ibaraki prefecture is known for Mito’s Kairakuen Garden. Many tourists visit the garden to see plum blossoms in early spring. The garden is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan.

Kairakuen is a scenic spot with a lot of viewpoints to enjoy its seasonal beauty, especially when all the plum trees are at full bloom, whereas Hitachi Seaside Park offers a large area to admire the seasonal flowers throughout the year.

For tourists and locals alike, these two scenic spots are hugely popular for spending a day away from Tokyo. Though it does not mean you are not encouraged to visit other beautiful places scattered throughout the prefecture.

Colorful tulips at Hitachi Seaside Park. Photo Credit: くろふね at Wikimedia Commons.

Fukuroda Falls is a good example. With various observation decks, this 120 meter tall waterfall is an ideal place to spend a day. According to season, the view of the fall always varies. I particularly enjoy visiting the place during autumn. If you have time, pay a visit to this beautiful falls and it worth a visit.

There are also other well known places to explore in the prefecture such as Oiwa Shrine in Hitachi city, and Fukuokazeki Sakura Park in Tsukubamirai City.

All the attractions mentioned above can make your trip to Ibaraki a great adventure sharing a lot of exciting memories. Next time you visit Ibaraki, feel free to visit the places I have recommended here.

In Conclusion

Nemophila and nanohana (rapeseed flower). Photo Credit: t.kunikuni at Flickr.

Hitachi Seaside Park seems to me a perfect place to enjoy a day trip outside Tokyo city! Otherwise why a lot of visitors would go there from the capital city and enjoy the picture-perfect surrounding landscapes? No matter what time you visit the park, it has no shortage of charming things to make your trip overwhelming.

Looking for a place to see variety of beautiful flowers outside Tokyo in the spring? You will find it in the Hitachi Seaside Park, the perfect place to admire Japan’s seasonal beauty. If you are thinking about visiting Japan in April, don’t think twice but add this site to your itinerary. I guarantee that you will be able to see amazing spring flower gardens.

You have been informed how to reach the park from Tokyo. One thing you should be aware of is the entrance fee. Admission costs 410 Yen. Pay in cash please!

Japan is filled with places to photograph. And this exclusive park in the Kanto region is the right example. This is one of the best places for photographers especially who are fond of capturing beautiful outdoor nature in Japan. Once you are there, you will find plenty of areas to take awesome photos. Thanks for reading, wishing you all the best.

Leave a Reply