Hitachi Seaside Park, Ibaraki

A national seaside park in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, where about 5.3 million nemophila turn a hill blue in spring and kochia bushes glow red in autumn.

Rows of round red kochia bushes on Miharashi Hill in autumn — Photo: Abasaa, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Kochia bushes turning from green to red on the slopes of Hitachi Seaside Park — Photo: dacheket, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

From military base to flower park

Hitachi Seaside Park is a large national government park on the Pacific coast in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture. An airfield for the former Japanese military was built on this land in 1938, and after the Second World War it was used by the US military as a firing and bombing range. After it was returned to Japan in 1973 it was developed into a park, and part of it opened in October 1991. The open area has been growing little by little ever since.

The park is divided into areas such as the Miharashi Area, the Dune Area, the Woodland Area, the Grassland Area and the Pleasure Garden amusement park, and there is also a cycling course and a barbecue area.

Miharashi Hill: blue in spring, red in autumn

The park is best known for Miharashi Hill. From mid-April to early May, about 5.3 million nemophila (small blue flowers) cover the whole hill. The official website describes the view as "three blues" melting together: blue sky, blue sea and blue hill.

Once the nemophila season is over, the hill is planted with kochia (also called summer cypress or burning bush). In summer the hill is lined with round green bushes, which turn bright red in autumn. The red kochia are at their best around mid-October, when cosmos flowers are also blooming. After the kochia are cut down in November, white sheets laid to protect against frost make the hill look as though it were covered in snow.

A flower season that lasts all year

Besides the nemophila and kochia, the official website introduces flowers for every season: daffodils and tulips in spring, roses in early summer, zinnias and sunflowers in summer, and cosmos in autumn.

The amusement park area also has a 100 m Ferris wheel, which gives you a wide view over the park from above.

Getting there

By train, take a local bus from Katsuta Station on the JR Joban Line, which takes about 15-20 minutes. You can also use Ajigaura Station on the Hitachinaka Seaside Railway. By car, Hitachi Kaihin Koen IC on the Hitachinaka toll road, which connects to the Kita-Kanto Expressway, is right nearby.

There are several entrances (gates), so check the map on the official website to find the gate nearest the flower area you want to see and save yourself some walking. Check the official website for opening hours and admission fees.

Tips

Huge crowds come when the nemophila and kochia are at their best. Check the bloom updates and crowd forecasts on the official website before choosing your dates.
During events, use of parts of the park may be restricted. For 2026, a notice has been issued about restrictions from 30 September to 5 October because of a fireworks event.
The park is very large, so wear comfortable walking shoes. There is also a cycling course in the park.