Miharashi Hill (Hitachi Seaside Park)
みはらしの丘
The highest hill in Hitachinaka, inside Hitachi Seaside Park: carpeted in blue nemophila in spring and round kochia bushes that turn fiery red in autumn.
The highest hill in the park
Miharashi Hill rises inside Hitachi Seaside Park (about 237 hectares), a national government park in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture, and it is the highest point in the whole city of Hitachinaka. From the top you can look out over the park and the Pacific Ocean beyond.
The slopes are replanted with the seasons, so the hill looks completely different in spring and autumn. The park's official website describes it as "a landscape you can only find here".
Spring: nemophila, where sky, sea and hill merge in blue
From mid-April to early May, nemophila, a tiny blue flower, covers the entire hill. On a clear day the blue sky, the blue sea and the blue hill seem to join into one, a view you can only see at this time of year.
Summer to autumn: kochia, from green to red
Once the nemophila is over, kochia (also called hokigi, or summer cypress) is planted. Kochia grows into round, fluffy shapes, bright green in summer and deep red in autumn. It usually turns red around mid-October, and you can enjoy it together with cosmos flowers.
As of late September 2026, the whole hill is starting to shade from green into red. After the kochia is cut down in November, the slopes are covered with white sheets to protect the soil from the cold, giving the hill a wintry look, as if it were covered in snow.
Getting there
The closest entrance to the hill is the park's West Gate (Tsubasa Gate). It is about 15 minutes by bus from JR Katsuta Station, and by car it is right next to the Hitachi Seaside Park Interchange. If you use the Seaside Train that runs around the park, stop 7 is the nearest.
There is an admission fee for Hitachi Seaside Park, and it may go up when the flowers are at their peak. Check the official website for opening hours and prices.
Tips
- It gets very crowded during the nemophila and kochia seasons. Avoid weekends and go early, right after the park opens.
- Because an event is being held in the park on 3 October 2026, access to some areas will be restricted from 30 September to 5 October. If you are going during this period, check the notices on the official website.
- The official website and social media accounts post regular updates on how the nemophila and kochia are coming along. Check that they are at their best before you set off.
Sources
Updated 30 September 2026. Opening hours and prices change, so check the official site before you go.
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