Feel a desire to escape the concrete jungle for some fresh mountain air and a dash of seasonal color? Nestled among Nagano’s lofty mountains and serene valleys are a plethora of parks and gardens where you can enjoy nature’s dramatic flora spectacle.

Here are a handful of suggestions for some of the prefecture’s top flower viewing destinations.

Note: Many of these locations are quite remote, and while public transportation options are listed, frequency is often limited. Having a car might make the trip more convenient.

Sunflowers at Hiraishi Farm (Anan Town, Southern Nagano)

200,000 sunflower plants poke their golden crowns skyward in this vast, 1.3-hectare field, the highlight of rural Anan Town. Once a mulberry plantation during the sericulture (silk making) boom, the field was repurposed for sunflower oil production and now attracts visitors with its countless, bright-yellow flowers.

Season: Early to late August

Access: 10 min. by taxi from Nukuta Station on the JR Iida Line

Entrance Fee: 300 yen per person

Website: http://www.town.anan.nagano.jp/tourism/himawari/ (Japanese)

Orange Cosmos and Seasonal Flowers at Alps Azumino Park (Azumino City, Northern Alps Area)

Alps Azumino Park offers a magnificent succession of blooms throughout the warmer months, making it a spectacular destination regardless of the season. The floral calendar begins in spring, when the flower beds in the Terraced Field Area explode with color from 320,000 tulips in 117 varieties, creating a stunning sight across 5,500 square meters.

As spring turns to summer, approximately 30,000 sunflowers cover an area of 7,000 square meters in the park’s Satoyama Cultural Zone.

Finally, trade the usual pastels of standard cosmos blossoms for a fiery orange autumn spectacle! The expansive fields in the Classic Japanese Views Area are covered in the golden and orange hues of a unique variety of cosmos flowers (cosmos sulphureus).
Spanning a massive two hectares and featuring an impressive 800,000 plants, this striking display is a must-see for photographers, with the Northern Alps providing a breathtaking backdrop.

Season: Tulips in mid-April to early May, sunflowers in early to mid-August, and orange cosmos in mid-September to early October

Access: 15 min. by taxi or Azumino Enjoy Bus (only in early May and early to mid-August) from Hotaka Station on the JR Oito Line

Website: https://www.azumino-koen.jp/en/

Azalea at Tsurumine Park (Okaya City, Suwa Area)

Central Japan’s largest azalea park boasts 30,000 bushes with 30 varieties. Located on the former grounds of a school originally built by a local silk manufacturing magnate, the chief gardener ordered three sets of a hundred azaleas. The nursery outside of Tokyo mistook the order for three truckloads. Thanks to that kerfuffle, today you can enjoy this vast display of beautiful azaleas.

Season: Early to mid-May

Access: 5 min. by taxi or bus from Okaya Station on the JR Chuo Line

Website: https://www.kanko-okaya.jp/enjoy/heritage/%E9%B6%B4%E5%B3%AF%E5%85%AC%E5%9C%92-2/ (Japanese)

Cosmos Flowers at Arafune Mountain Cosmos Park (Saku City, Eastern Nagano)

Imagine a nine-kilometer stretch of cosmos flowers leading to an idyllic field of pastel pink and purple – that is Saku’s flower-lined Highway 254 and Arafune Mountain Cosmos Park above, adjacent to Arafune Panorama Campground. The park is located by Uchiyama Pass on what was originally a ranch. At 1,200 meters above sea level, it is sometimes bathed in foggy mist, adding a mystical flair to this floral landscape.

Season: Mid-September to early October

Access: 35 min. by taxi from Sakudaira Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen

Website: https://arafune-camp.net/ (Japanese)

Lavender at Yume Farm (Ikeda Town, Northern Alps Area)

Around 100,000 lavender plants cover the garden’s hillside spread out over 4 hectares. The farm offers hands-on activities such as lavender wand and garland making. It also features cherry blossoms in April and blueberry picking in the summer. After taking in scenery, you can take a rest at the garden café.

Season: Early to late June

Access: 18 min. by taxi from Shinano-Matsukawa Station on the JR Oito Line

Website: https://yume-farm.amebaownd.com/pages/7389655/blog (Japanese)

Red Buckwheat at Akasoba no Sato (Minowa Town, Southern Nagano)

Buckwheat flowers are typically white in color but the Takane Ruby variety planted here blooms a striking pinkish-red hue. This field covers 4.6 hectares, about the size of the Tokyo Dome baseball stadium. Freshly-made soba noodles can be enjoyed at the nearby festival grounds during the season.

Season: Late September to early October

Access: 15 min. by taxi from Ina-Matsushima Station on the JR Iida Line

Website: https://www.minowa-town.jp/facilities/akasoba (Japanese)

Flowering Peach Trees at Hanamomo no Sato (Achi Village, Southern Nagano)

Tiny Achi Village boasts Japan’s largest array of flowering peach trees, creating a colorful chorus of vivid reds, whites and pinks. Nearby are the hot spring baths of Hirugami Onsen, perfect for rejuvenating your body after an exhausting day of flower-viewing.

Season: Mid- to late April

Access: 30 min. by bus from Iida Station on the JR Iida Line

Website: https://hirugamionsen.jp/hanamomo (Japanese)

Marigolds and Daylilies at Fujimi Kogen Resort (Fujimi Town, Suwa area)

Ride the summer lift to the 1,250-meter-high, 5-hectare Romance Garden for gorgeous marigold flowers and delicate daylilies. The park also features a rock garden and white birch tree forest, as well as a panoramic viewpoint from which all three of Japan’s tallest mountains can be seen, including—of course—Mt. Fuji.

Season: Marigolds late July to September, daylilies July. *Flower varieties vary by year.

Access: 10 min. by taxi from Kobuchizawa Station on the JR Chuo Line

Fee: 1,400 yen for Tenbo Lift and Romance Garden entrance

Website: https://hanano-sato.jp/ (Japanese)

Daylilies and other Alpine Plants at the Higashitateyama Alpine Botanical Garden (Yamanouchi Town, Northern Nagano)

Ride a series of three gondolas to ascend above the tree line to the 2,000-meter-high Higashitateyama Alpine Botanical Garden for an alpine paradise of daylilies and a profusion of rare plants. The daylilies are an early summer highlight of the Shiga Kogen highlands and cover over 5 hectares—more than two Tokyo Domes.

Season: Daylilies in July

Access: 70 min. from Nagano Station via express bus to Yama-no-eki bus stop, or 35 min. by bus from Yudanaka Station at the end of the Nagano Dentetsu Line to Yama-no-eki bus stop. From there, take the series of gondola rides to the garden (1-day pass: 3,000 yen)

Website: https://shigakogen.co.jp/activity/higashidateyama-alpine-botanical-garden/ (Japanese)

Canola Blossoms at Nanohana Park (Iiyama City, Northern Nagano)

Brilliant yellow canola (nanohana in Japanese) blossoms are spread out over the park’s 13 hectares. The sunny flowers provide a striking contrast to the azure blue Chikuma River below and the majestic peaks of Northern Nagano in the distance. Wander through maze-like paths, and during the Golden Week holiday, enjoy food stalls and local festivities.

Season: Late April to early May

Access: 23 min. by Nozawa Onsen Line bus from Iiyama Station to Yunoiriso Iriguchi bus stop then 7 min. on foot. Or 30 min. from Iiyama Station by rental bike.

Website: https://www.iiyama-ouendan.net/en/destination/nanohanapark/ (English)

Summary

For flower-viewing enjoyment in a beautiful natural setting, come out to the Japanese countryside in Nagano. And make sure your camera’s batteries are recharged because you will surely be inspired to take lots of photos!