What’s so special about Hitachi Seaside Park, anyway? What’s its difference with other garden or park in Japan? If you think that this park is similar to other public parks, then you need to do more thorough research.
Facts about the Park
Well, first of all, this park is pretty spacious. The total area is around 350 hectares although it is ‘only’ 200 hectares that are open and made accessible to the public. The park itself is situated along the Japanese coast, in Ibaraki Prefecture on the Pacific Ocean side. What’s unique about this park is the combination of natural elements of the environment. You can find springs, grassland, forests, sand dunes, and even entertainment areas. You can enjoy the BMX tracks, cycling and walking path, athletic field, and also the amusement park.
The signature style of this Hitachi Seaside Park is the green and lush surrounding. You can find tons of varieties of flowers and plants. Blue Nemophila is one of the most iconic flowers you can find there especially in Mirahashi Hill. They are so blue, especially in the spring, that they are almost similar to the sky. If you want to see them bloom (and you want to see the hill covered in these beautiful flowers), you should visit the park between late April to the middle of May. During the fall, the hill has a change of colour into green because green Kokia bushes will have their times of blooming. And as the weather becomes colder (usually between the early October to the mid-October), these bushes will turn red.
The Nemophila may be the iconic flower of the park, but there are other varieties that make the park so popular because of the green and fresh setting. For instance, narcissus is located in Suisen Garden and they bloom from the middle of March. There are also tulips that bloom in the late April. These are one of the main reasons why the park is so popular. The flowers are seasonal and they provide different scenic views, depending on the seasons. Changes in colours are very natural and refreshing – and you won’t be able to find such a view elsewhere.
Read also: Explore Japan With This Itinerary During Autumn
Other Attractions
Flowers are one of the main attractions of the park. However, people also love coming here for other recreations and alternatives. If you are into walking or cycling, you can make use of the walking trail passing through Hitachinaka Nature Forest. Or you can enjoy Dune Garden and learn about the native plants of Japan coastline.
If you are travelling with your families or kids, you can enjoy the small amusement park with its 25 attractions and rides, including a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, and putter golf. If you want to have picnics, you can go to the BBQ area. If you want to rest or eat, the park has a rest area and restaurants – they are all over the park.
You will have to pay ¥410 for the entrance fee. They have different operational hours.
- From March 1st to July 20th or September 1st to October 31st, it opens from 9:30 to 17:00
- From July 21st to August 31st, it opens from 9:30 to 18:00
- From November 1st to February 28th, it opens from 9:30 to 16:30
Read also: Reasons Why You Should Visit Osaka Japan
Going There
The park is in Hitachinaka, which is 130 kilometres away from Tokyo. You can go with JR Joban Line heading to Katsuta Station and then continue by a bus. The train is around ¥3800 with the express train (taking 80 minutes) or ¥2270 yen with the local trains (taking two hours). The bus is ¥400 and it takes 15 minutes. If you use the bus, there is a direct bus from Tokyo Station to the park, taking 2.5 hours and it costs ¥2240.
If you are interested in going there, you should plan everything early. Don’t forget to book your flights as soon as possible with Airpaz. You won’t have to worry about a thing if you plan early.
