Autumn in Ibaraki: Enjoy Kochia, Seasonal Blooms at Hitachi Seaside Park
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Explore one of Japan’s most popular flower parks, beloved by locals! Once a best-kept secret located in Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県), Hitachi Seaside Park (国営ひたち海浜公園 Kokuei Hitachi Kaihin Kōen) is a national treasure, adored not only by the people of Ibaraki but also by Tokyoites and visitors from across the country.
As part of promoting our “Autumn in Ibaraki” Omiyage Snack Box, JAPAN RAIL CLUB had the privilege to visit the highly-anticipated Kochia Light-Up Event (コキアライトアップ), a month-long event held every autumn that features kochia in a different light.
We spoke to Ms. Watanabe (渡邉), the Public Relations representative from the Hitachi Seaside Park Management Center, to discover the must-visit attractions and charms of this beloved park.
A symbol of peace: Introduction to Hitachi Seaside Park
Thank you for your time, Watanabe-san! Please introduce us to Hitachi Seaside Park and its history.
Before our beloved Hitachi Seaside Park came about, the area grounds were home to the military Mito-Higashi Airbase, and was also used as a bomb-training ground by the US Air Force.
In 1973, the land was returned to the Japanese government and was transformed into a public park, to preserve the abundant natural environment and meet the recreational needs of the Greater Kanto Region, as well as a symbol of peace.
The project of restoring this area into a public park began in 1979, and construction began in 1984, with the first 70 hectares opening in October 1991.
Today, Hitachi Seaside Park spans 215ha (that’s an equivalent to about 46 Tokyo Domes!) and is renowned for its seasonal flower displays located close to the sea, including the famous “baby blue eyes” nemophila that bloom in the spring, and kochia (fireweed) that turn a burning red in autumn.
The seasonal blooms of Hitachi Seaside Park
Oh, please tell us more about the highlights of each season! Where are some of the best spots in Hitachi Seaside Park, and when is the best time to visit them?
At Hitachi Seaside Park, you can enjoy colourful flowers throughout the year: narcissus, tulips, and nemophila in spring, poppies and roses in early summer, sunflowers in summer, kochia and cosmos in autumn, and “ice cream” tulips in winter.
One of the major spots within the park is Miharashi no Oka Hill (みはらしの丘), which is also the highest point in Hitachinaka City at 58m tall. Here, visitors can enjoy a “unique landscape” with a sense of scale created by a variety of flowers throughout the four seasons.
Nemophila Season: Blue sky, blue sea, and blue hill
Of course, spring is famous for the sakura season, but the main highlight of our park during this time is the nemophila flowers. From mid-April to early May, the entire Miharashi no Oka Hill is covered with nemophila flowers from mid-April to early May!
Imagine the hill carpeted in blue, with the blue sky and blue sea as the backdrop. This picturesque scene, created by these three blues blending together, is a sight you might not see anywhere else.
Fireweed Season: Welcoming autumn with fiery kochia
Once the nemophila season is over, kochia are planted, creating a new attraction in the hotter months of June to August. During summer, kochia plants are a verdant green, looking like green puffy clouds on the ground.
After the seeds are sown, pure white frost protection sheets are laid over the entire hill, allowing you to enjoy a winter-like landscape that looks as if it were covered in snow.
One of the biggest events that is held as part of the kochia season is the Kochia Light-Up Event (コキアライトアップ)! This event takes place every late September to October (actual dates vary by year) at Miharashi no Oka Hill, right before the green puffy plants transition to their infamous red colour.
A lighting ceremony usually takes place on the first day of the event, illuminating the hill in a multitude of colours. The subsequent days of the festival are filled with light shows that take place from sunset till night (9:30pm), where the LED lights are combined with music to create a compelling storyline.
Fun for the whole family, all-year round!
What other events or facilities can one enjoy when visiting Hitachi Seaside Park?
At Hitachi Seaside Park, we hold family-friendly events every other week. In fact, we just had a 2-day event last weekend (9–10 November 2024) called “Kai・Hana Soto Asobi” (海花 そとあそび)! Surrounding the themes of “food” and “experience”, it was filled with activities for all ages, including log cutting, horseback riding, dried flower arrangement, and even outdoor cooking classes!
As for facilities inside the park, there’s the Pleasure Garden (プレジャーガーデン), an amusement park with a variety of attractions including a giant ferris wheel that offers panoramic views from 100m above sea level. There’s also the Rinkan Forest Adventure Playground (林間アスレチック広場) for children to roam free, as well as BBQ pits, a cycling course, and many more.
As you can tell, there are many ways one can enjoy their time at the Hitachi Seaside Park!
Wow, we definitely can’t wait to visit Hitachi Seaside Park again! Thank you for introducing us to your beautiful park! Lastly, do you have any messages to the members of JAPAN RAIL CLUB?
By the time you read this article, the kochia season would have already ended and preparations for spring nemophila flowers would have started as early as mid-November. We hope that many people from around the world will visit Hitachi Seaside Park to enjoy the seasonal scenery. We will continue to strive to manage the park so that we can contribute to the revitalization of the entire local community. All our staff look forward to welcoming you to the park!
About Hitachi Seaside Park
Hitachi Seaside Park (国営ひたち海浜公園) Address: 605-4, Onuma, Mawatari, Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki 312-0012 Access: 1) From Tokyo, take the Limited Express HITACHI・TOKIWA on the JR Joban Line to Katsuta Station (about 1.5 hours). From Katsuta Station, it is a 15-minute bus ride (茨城交通) to the West Gate (海浜公園西口) or South Gate ((海浜公園南口) of the park. 2) Alternatively, from Katsuta Station, take the Hitachinaka Seaside Railway Minato Line (ひたちなか海浜鉄道湊線) for about 30 minutes, get off at Ajigaura Station (阿字ヶ浦駅), and walk 20 minutes on foot to the Seaside Park South Gate. Opening hours: 09:30–17:00 (Varies depending on the season) (Closed every Tuesday, and on selected days. Visit the park’s website for more information.) Note: Special non-stop buses run from Katsuta Station East Exit to West Gate during the spring and autumn peak season.
Autumn in Ibaraki Omiyage Snack Box available this November 2024, only at JAPAN RAIL CLUB!
Explore the best of Ibaraki’s seasonal snacks with our “Autumn in Ibaraki” Omiyage Snack Box this November 2024–subscribe to JAPAN RAIL CLUB today!
Sue Lynn
Currently based in Tokyo, Sue Lynn first came to Japan as a university exchange student. With 6 years of experience in Japan’s inbound tourism, she is familiar with Japan, particularly on rail passes and East Japan spots, and has a passion for travelling. Some of her favourite places in Japan include Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture and Kamikochi in Nagano Prefecture.
Sue is also passionate about Japan’s thrifting culture, and is keen to uncover more anaba hidden gems while visiting all 47 prefectures during her stay in Japan. Sue’s 5Cs are cats, cameras, cinema, (vintage) Coach bags, and city pop. Ask her about how her favourite JR Pass (JR TOKYO Wide Pass) saved her life (and wallet).
