2024 Hitachinaka Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in December)

A Must-Visit Seasonal Spot Near Tokyo - Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture

A must-visit when traveling to Tokyo in October, guaranteed to take countless photos. The park is large and can be enjoyed for a whole day. There is a children's play area with a Ferris wheel, carousel, and other amusement facilities. There are sightseeing cars available for rides, or you can rent bicycles to explore. Near the entrance, there is a unique café, and within the park, there are food trucks offering a variety of foods.

Strolling through the red kochia at Hitachi Seaside Park

Every year, the two busiest seasons at Hitachi Seaside Park are the summer, with its hills covered in baby blue eyes, and the autumn, filled with the red kochia. The kochia changes color from green to red, then orange, and finally yellow. 😂 The peak season for seeing the bright red kochia is also when the park is most crowded in autumn. We sprinted as soon as the park opened to capture the vast scenery without people. In addition to kochia, there are other autumn flowers in bloom. The blooming cosmos flowers are also stunning. There are also food trucks inside the park selling snacks and ice cream. Hitachi Seaside Park hosts different flower exhibitions throughout the year. The entrance fee ranges from 450 yen to 800 yen, depending on the season.

A Dreamy Sea of Flowers, a Must-Visit in Your Lifetime!

A Fairytale-like Blue Flower Field~ Even if you've seen photos a hundred times, being there in person is still breathtaking!! The environment is beautiful and spacious, making it very comfortable for strolling and taking photos~ There are tons of food stalls in the park🤯🤯🤤😋😋 So many varieties!!! Ice cream, skewers, beer, shaved ice... And there are seasonal limited items, dreamy pink and blue drinks and desserts!~ The quality is absolutely top-notch!! Enjoying a meal in the midst of nature is very relaxing~ The park is very large with different areas! Besides the flower viewing area, there's also a green barbecue and rope net area, and even an amusement park area!!! The flower viewing area changes the types of flowers according to the season~ There are different flower scenes all year round~ I can't wait to visit again and explore the entire park!!!!!

Hitachi Seaside Park

It wasn't the season for nemophila flowers, but the scenery was very beautiful♪ The park is very large, so I recommend renting a bicycle. I walked around, so I was very tired😓 It's great because you can see various flowers according to the season. When I went, the sunflowers were nearing the end and most of them were looking down lol You can take beautiful photos, so if you like taking pictures of scenery with a camera, you should definitely go! There is also an amusement park, so I think you can enjoy it even if you go with small children♪

The Most Beautiful Blue Hill in Japan

If you arrived in Japan on late April and still wanted to see some cherry blossoms or any other flowers blooming, maybe you have to go to Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture. Getting there from Tokyo is easy peasy. I went there around 11 a.m and return to Tokyo before sunset. I get on the train from Ueno Station to Katsuta Station. Once you exit from Katsuta Station, you'll find a ticket counter to Hitachi Seaside Park. You'll get return ticket bus and entrance ticket. There are a lot of flower blooming in late April at Hitachi Seaside Park. Cherry blossoms were also still blooming meanwhile you can't find one in Tokyo. But everyone come to Hitachi Seaside Park not only for cherry blossom or tulip, but there's a hill covered with blue nemophilia. I swear it was the most beautiful place I've ever been. It was my last day in Japan and I didn't regret coming to Hitachi Seaside Park. You gotta see with your own eyes. #japan #tokyo #hitachiseasidepark #hitachiibaraki #wecreate #awesomepic #flowerlover #2023travelwish

Sea of blue

#japan #ibaraki This is the Hitachi Seaside Park located in Ibaraki prefecture. It is abit far from Tokyo but I think it’s worth the trip. You can either take a straight highway bus from Shinjuku station or take the JR line to Katsuta station and take a bus to the park. During peak seasons they will sell the return bus trip and entrance tickets as a package at the bus stop which is cheaper! The park is really big and you can even have a picnic there ~

Kochia at Hitachi Seaside Park

You can visit this 200 hectare Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture in all seasons. It is home to a variety of flowers that bloom throughout the year. Particularly popular are the fields of densely blooming Nemophila (baby blue eyes) in the spring and the kochia (summer cypress), which turn from green to bright red in the fall. You can enjoy exploring the park on a cycling course (rental bicycles available) or on the cute Seaside Train. This was the view when we went in October 🤩 Access: From JR Katsuta Station (JR Joban Line), take the Ibaraki Kotsu bus bound for Kaihin Koen Minami Guchi (17 min). Get off at Kaihin Koen Nishi Guchi stop. #mytripvlog #urbanexplorer #urbanexplorer #awesomepic #tripblazers #kochia #ibaraki #japantravel #japan

Hitachi Seaside Park 🇯🇵

📍Hitachi Seaside Park, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki 🇯🇵Located in the area facing the Pacific Ocean in the city of Hitachinaka, Hitachi Seaside Park offers beautiful flowers in its well-kept, large gardens throughout the year. In the spring, a garden of nemophila flowers stretches over a large area forming a wonderful scene. To go to the flower garden you will go through narrow paths, which lead to large green spaces. Besides, you can see the sea from the park, so it’s a perfect place for nature lovers. However, when it comes to Hitachi Park, people will immediately think of nemophila flowers. And Nemophila flower season is starting soon, so if you’re a nature lover and you’re thinking of where to go in early May, visiting Hitachi park to see these beautiful blue flowers could be a good choice #celebratewithtrip #japan #mytripvlog #urbanexplorer #awesomepic #2023travelwish 🇯🇵✨

#Tulips♥️

Originally native to Turkey, tulips underwent selective breeding in Europe before being brought to Japan in the 19th century. The tulip garden in Hitachi Seaside Park features a wide variety of tulips to produce a colourful design. Early-flowering varieties and late-flowering varieties are grown together to produce flower beds that change over time – every area of the tulip garden is the product of years of study and experience! Located in the pine woodlands of Tamago no Mori, the colourful tulip garden sure to put a smile on anyone’s face. When: April Total:260,000 plants in 230 varieties Where:Tamago no Mori Flower Garden

#Nemophila Blue♥️

Millions of Nemophila blue or baby blue eyes are the main attraction of Hitachi Seaside Park in spring. Apart from the Nemophila blue, tulips are also blooming at the Park. The best time to visit Hitachi Seaside Park in spring is within Golden Week holiday, April 29th – May 5th. Sometimes baby blue eyes are still blooming until second week of May but will not be as fresh as late April to early May. It’ll will be extremely crowded at the Park. Try to arrive before the opening time (0830 am) and start queuing for the entrance ticket. Alternatively, pick late afternoon to arrive at the Hitachi Seaside Park and stay there until the closing time. It’s even more quiet before the closing time. Minus point: you may lose sunshine for pictures taking.

#Autumn break

Kochia are a plant of the Amaranthaceae family, and originate in southern Europe. They are an annual plant, meaning that they complete their life cycle through germination, blossoming, and withering all within one year. The Japanese name for them, "hoki-gusa" means "broom grass", and they were appropriately dried and used as broom heads in old times. Kochia seeds can actually be eaten, and in Akita Prefecture they have been loved by the name of "Tonburi" for many generations. Because of their texture, shape and color, they have been nicknamed "farm caviar." In the Japanese culture of "hanakotoba" ("flower words") in which different flowers are given individual words and meanings, the kochia represents "a blessed lifestyle" and "full honesty to you." The "blessed lifestyle" was interpreted from the daily versatility of kochia branches and seeds in purposes other than viewing. The latter "full honesty to you" was inspired by the manner in which kochia plants turn their green leaves into a bright red during autumn, which reminded people of a woman flushing her cheeks red.

#Kochia in Autumn

In autumn, the fields of Hitachi Seaside Park become a gorgeous red carpet of kochia plants, that awes the eyes of viewers. Hitachi Seaside Park in Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture is well-known for its spring-time nemophila fields, but the autumn scenery of 30,000 Kochia plants is equally breathtaking. Kochias are cute and visually fun to look at too, making them just as enjoyable in the summer as they are in their autumn prime. Hitachi Seaside Park is a state-run park along the coastline of Hitachinaka City, boasting a rich natural landscape full of plants and flowers. With tulips and nemophila in the spring, roses and sunflowers in the summer, and cosmos and kochia during the autumn, a huge variety of flowers and plants give this well-known landmark of Ibaraki a different palette for every season. On Fares & Reservations Starting 2020, Hitachi Seaside Park has added a ¥250 "event fare" to its admission during the prime seasons of kochia and nemophila. During autumn of 2020, the this fare is effective between October 15th and October 26th. There are also days during kochia season that fares become free. In 2020, these days are October 4th and October 11th, and parking remains paid during these days too.

#Tulips Season♥️♥️

It will always be my favorite ♥️. The tulip garden in Hitachi Seaside Park features a wide variety of tulips to produce a colourful design. Early-flowering varieties and late-flowering varieties are grown together to produce flower beds that change over time – every area of the tulip garden is the product of years of study and experience! Located in the pine woodlands of Tamago no Mori, the colourful tulip garden sure to put a smile on anyone’s face. Besides cherry blossoms, there are many more beautiful flowers flourish during spring in Japan. Sakura Tulip Festa is the biggest Tulip festival around Tokyo, featuring approx 600,000 colourful Tulip flowers. #260,000 plants in 230 varieties #tamago no Mori Flower Garden #goldenweek #japan

#Well spent vacation

Known as Rurikarakusa in Japanese, nemophila is an annual herb native to North America. The plant grows up to 20cm tall and produces flowers between 2 – 3cm in size. The small flowers mean nemophila usually plays a supporting role in gardens but at Hitachi Seaside Park the sheer number of flowers creates an almost neverending sea of blue that flows seamlessly into the blue Spring skies. Nemophila comes from the Greek ‘nemos’ meaning ‘small forest’ and ‘phileo’ meaning ‘to love’. Nemphila are often found growing around the edges of woodlands, earning them their name. The variety of nemophila grown in HItachi Seasdie Park is the ‘insignis blue’ variety. Nemophila are sometimes referred as ‘baby blue eyes’ in English.

#tripaway It’s beautiful all the time because they grow different flowers each season which suits the climate. The park is especially gorgeous when it’s in autumn. They have unique flower/tree which other places don’t have. #tripaway

It's an all day affair, and well worth the admission. Try going in the fall when the plants are at their peak reddish color. 　The colors are very surreal.　　I'll return this year. Depending on where you live in Tokyo, it will take you about a 1 to 2 hour drive. #GiveThanks

Hitachinaka Sea side park

There were so many wonderful flowers and views.

'Fall' in love with Kochia

#fallcolors #100waysoftravel In autumn, other than maple leaves, Kochia is famous in Japan too. Just less than 2 hours JR train from Tokyo to Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki, you can witness this mesmerising view and chilling in the garden of kochia blossom. October is a good month to visit Hitachi Seaside Park to witness the changes of colour for Kochia. They used to be green > red > gold. Let's visit Japan!

Ibaraki | Shrine with a view of the sea through the torii gate.

Sakatsura Isozaki Shrine is popular for its scenic view of the sea through the torii gate. Located in Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture, this shrine is known for enshrining the god of the sea. The approach and the precincts are lined with ancient trees, creating a mystical atmosphere. Just walking along the approach for worship made my heart feel at peace. The air also feels clear. To reach the torii gate, take the path to the left midway along the approach. It's visible from the approach, so you won't get lost. Actually, this shrine is also famous for lottery winning prayers. It is said that many lottery wins have occurred from the sales booth that received purification. Gently stroke the lucky turtle... May you receive its blessings. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Sakatsura Isozaki Shrine 📍 4607-2 Isozaki-cho, Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Hitachi seaside park

see the prettiest sence of Hitachi seaside park only in this month .

Kochia Garden near Tokyo is beautiful no matter the season.

Hitachi Seaside Park, a famous flower garden and amusement park, is a popular spot for tourists to take photos with the small blue flowers known as Nemophila (Baby Blue Eyes), which start blooming in mid-April and peak in early May. Unfortunately, we missed them this time, so we came to see the Kochia bushes instead. With over 32,000 Kochia bushes, the small hill in front of us is filled with vibrant green, fluffy bushes (not the canned fish) that perfectly match the summer sky. By mid-October, these bushes turn red, contrasting beautifully with the sky, making this garden a great place to visit and take photos in every season, each offering a unique experience. The park spans over 1 hectare and features more than 1,000,000 flowers from 550 species, surrounded by pine forests. At the entrance, you can purchase tickets ranging from one-day passes to three-day passes, ensuring you can explore the park thoroughly. Inside, the park is divided into zones such as the flower fields, amusement park, activity areas, and more. Each zone is further divided by the seasons in which the flowers bloom. So, if you want to see a specific view, make sure to check the blooming season to avoid missing out on your favorite flowers.

Admire the Beauty of Kochia in Hitachi Seaside Park

The kochia season at Hitachi Seaside Park in Japan is one of the park's most stunning and colorful highlights. Located in Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture, the park is famous for its rolling hills covered with vibrant seasonal flowers, but the fiery red kochia bushes in autumn are particularly breathtaking. Before planning a trip, I always check the park's official fan page to see the current status of the kochia (in autumn) and nemophila (in spring) to time my visit around the peak bloom. This ensures we can enjoy the plants at their most spectacular. From Tokyo, we took a rapid train to Katsuta Station, and then purchased the combo ticket (which includes both park entry and bus fare) to get to the park. It's a bit of a walk from the entrance to Miharashi Hill, where the vibrant red kochia bushes are located, but the beautiful scenery throughout the park makes it a pleasant journey. Just be mindful of the strong seaside winds as you stroll through the park! The return shuttle bus can get quite crowded, so make sure to plan ahead and allow enough time to catch the train back to Tokyo Station without feeling rushed. #japantrip

A vast park known for its seasonal flower gardens!

It's a nice place, depending on the time of the year you can see different flowers and colors. They have all the information on their website. It was really crowded as it was the weekend. There were different carts that were selling foods, drinks and ice cream inside the park. The park is quite large so it will take up a lot of energy to cover everything. Excellent season to visit during is mid-April. Lovely flowers and weather. Crowd was manageable when we arrived at 9am, parking lot was half filled. But at 12pm, the lots were fully filled. #100waysoftravel

Hitachi sea side park in October 🇯🇵

#japantrip Hitachi Seaside Park is an enormous park in Ibaraki Prefecture that is most famous for its gorgeous, picture-perfect flower fields. The park covers 350 hectares and has flowers as far as the eye can see. This vast park is best known for the stunning blue nemophila flowers in spring (mid-April onwards) and bright red kochia bushes in autumn (October). Hitachi Seaside Park is located in Hitachinaka city in Ibaraki Prefecture. The park is acessible in 2h-2h30 from central Tokyo. To get there, the fastest option is to take the JR Hitachi and Tokiwa limited express train from Shinagawa, Tokyo or Ueno station to Katsuta station.🚉 There are no free days on the beach like they use to have. It cost $10 a person on the park side to get on the beach. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. #japan #parks

Nemophila in Japan - Baby Blue Eyes!

🦋Nemophila in Japan - Baby Blue Eyes! Small but mighty, these flowers are impossible to ignore. Originally from North America, these charming annuals are poetically named 'Rurikarigusa' in Japan, and nicknamed 'Baby Blue Eyes' in Chinese. Just hearing the name warms the heart. 🪻Standing at about 20cm tall, the flowers themselves are only 2-3cm in size, but their charm is undeniable. Once just a garden filler, their dense, star-like blue blooms blend seamlessly with the sky, making them the center of attention. 🌸Imagine a hill dyed blue with Baby Blue Eyes, where the sky and sea intertwine, creating a beautiful painting. This is the magic of Baby Blue Eyes, a beauty you can only truly appreciate in person. 🗺️The park is quite large, so don't forget to grab a guide map at the entrance to avoid getting lost. 🐰After entering from the parking lot, you'll first encounter a zoo where you can interact with adorable animals before heading to see the Baby Blue Eyes and snapping some beautiful photos. 🎡Next, head to the amusement park area and take a ride on the Ferris wheel for a panoramic view of the entire park. 🧁🍧🍦Finally, enjoy some seasonal Nemophila ice cream and browse the nearby shops. Time will fly by! Recommended visit time is 3-4 hours, but if you're with kids, you can easily spend the whole day here. Come and experience the charm of Baby Blue Eyes! 🌼Hitachi Seaside Park Address: 605-4 Mawatari Onuma, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture Best viewing period: Mid-April to early May Opening hours: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM (closing times vary by season) Closed on: Tuesdays Admission: Adults 450 yen | High school students and above 290 yen

Recommended for seafood lovers 🤍 A fishing port where you can eat huge and fresh oysters 🤩🦪✨ [Ibaraki Prefecture]

====📍Nakaminato Fish Market 19-8 Minatohonmachi, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki 311-1221 🚃Nearest station Nakaminato Station 🚶♀️Access 15 minutes on foot from the station 🚗Parking available (paid)・Standard car: 100 yen・Public car: 210 yen・Large public car: 340 yen ⏱Opening hours 7:00~17:00 🗓No fixed holidays 🎫No entrance fee==== Introducing the recommended fishing port "Nakaminato Fish Market" that can be reached easily from Tokyo🤩🐟💎 A very large fish market where you can buy and eat extremely fresh and delicious seafood🧡 If you come here, you definitely want to eat Yamasa Fisheries Co., Ltd. Main Store Retail Market Raw oysters 🤤🦪🩵 These fresh, bouncy oysters are as big as the palm of your hand and are really delicious and the best 🫶 They also have lemon juice and ponzu sauce so you can add whatever you like 🎶 They don't have the distinctive smell of rock oysters and have a very mellow and creamy taste 🫣🤍🤍 Even if you don't like rock oysters, please give them a try 🌷 There are also many festival-like stalls selling delicious seafood such as sea urchin and tentacles, fruit candy, and baby castella, so you can enjoy eating while walking ☺️💓 Eating while walking is great, but there are also conveyor belt sushi restaurants and restaurants, so I recommend them 🎶 I went to Conveyor Belt Sushi Morita (1F) and it was really delicious 🥳💛💛 All the stores are crowded at lunchtime, so if you want to go to a store, it might be a good idea to go early 🫢💡 The fresh fish was really cheap so I bought a lot 🤩✨✨ Isn't it crazy that a pack of tuna red meat that looks so delicious is only 500 yen? 🥺🐟 I bought it and took half of it home to eat as sashimi and the rest to marinate, and it was amazing 🫶 There is also a greengrocer called East Seika at the fishing port, and I was able to get delicious looking vegetables and fruits at a much better price than in Tokyo 😍🥒💞 What did you think? ❤️🔥 I've introduced you to a recommended fishing port in Ibaraki Prefecture, Nakaminato Fish Market 🥳 If you like seafood or fishing ports, please come and visit 🎶 #adultgirltrip #girltrip #relaxingtravelspot #fishingport #IbarakiPrefecture #IbarakiTourism #drive #travelwithme

Surrounded by a sea of baby blue eyes flowers.

When you arrive at this sea of baby blue eyes, you can take stunning photos to your heart's content! This flower field is quite expansive, with varying elevations, so the effect of your photos can differ greatly depending on the angle. Therefore, take your time to find the best spot for yourself to capture the most enchanting photos. The blooming season for baby blue eyes is from mid-April to early May each year. During this period, both the weather and the scenery are perfect for a flower-viewing trip! However, note that the blooming time can vary slightly each year, so it's a good idea to check the official website before you go to ensure you catch the flowers at their peak. Oh, and this period coincides with Japan's Golden Week holiday, so expect larger crowds and be prepared! This park is quite large, spanning 215 hectares, so you might accidentally take a wrong turn. But don't worry, just enter through the 'West Entrance - Wing Gate'! There's a bicycle center nearby where you can rent a bike or take the 'Seaside Train' to easily tour the park and head straight to the sea of baby blue eyes.

Hitachi Seaside Park's Red Kochia

Hitachi Seaside Park is adorned with hills covered in red kochia. Spanning an area of 19,000 square meters within the park, over 30,000 kochia plants transform from green to red, creating a sea of red that perfectly embodies the seamless blend of sea and sky. The scenery may be monotonous, but it's enough to captivate your attention for a good half of the day. Hitachi Seaside Park (国営ひたち海浜公園) Address: 605-4 Mawatari, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture

Japan | I want to promote this blue world to the whole world

I want to shout to the whole world: The end of the world, is 5.3 million pale blue blossoms! So beautiful!! Photo taken on 2024.4.29 ‼️How to take pictures with few people: 1️⃣Learn to wait. After a group of people passes, there are only two or three people left, quickly take the shot, and then you just need to erase these few people 2️⃣Learn to find unique shooting positions. Use a telephoto lens, such as 70-200 to find angles 3️⃣It is recommended to come as early as possible, after nine o'clock there will be more people 4️⃣Make good use of the AI removal skills of Meitu Xiuxiu —— Tips: 1️⃣There are a lot of people during the blooming season! Be mentally prepared 2️⃣Even buying an ice cream requires queuing, it is recommended to bring some snacks You can also camp on the grass ——— 💙Address: Hitachinaka Seaside Park, Japan 💙Transportation: 👉If departing from Tokyo: Take the JR Hitachi Joban Line to Katsuta Station, then transfer to a bus to the park ‼️During the blooming season, there is a direct bus to the park from the east exit of Katsuta Station 👉If you arrive at Katsuta the day before: The next morning, take a taxi from the hotel (using the Go Taxi app) directly to the park entrance, about 3009 yen. For the return trip, you can take a bus from the park entrance back to Katsuta Station ✅Business hours: Usually 9:30-16:30, closed on Mondays But during the blooming season, it opens at 7 am, and it's also open on Mondays! ‼️There are already a lot of people before 7 am Admission is 410 yen ✅Accommodation hotels: If you want to get to the park as soon as it opens, you can stay at a hotel near Katsuta Station the night before coming from Tokyo 1️⃣Life Inn Hotel at Katsuta Station: at the west exit of Katsuta Station 2️⃣Katsuta Terrace Economy Hotel: at the east exit of Katsuta Station The hotel is 7 kilometers from the park, 20 minutes by taxi, about half an hour by bus There is not much to eat around the hotel, but there is a convenience store

Hitachi Seaside Park

#japantrip Have you been to Hitachi Seaside Park in Japan? It's about 2.5 hours driving, from Yokosuka, north of Tokyo and right on the ocean. 🌊 We went last weekend and the big "blue eyes" nemophila flowers were in full glorious bloom, along with lots of tulips and bright yellow rape (mustard) blossoms. The park offers restaurants, food stands, a train or small bus to ride, wooded trails to walk, paved trails, bikes for rent for adults & kids alike, a big white bouncy (free!) trampoline for kids, 2 BMX tracks, mini golf, playgrounds, and an amusement park with giant ferris wheel and roller coasters! We loved it and can't wait to go back to get another nature fix. 🌼 🌹 Tips: Bring water, wear comfortable clothing and sneakers for lots of walking or biking. Go early if you think you'll want to ride a bike (they sometimes rent them all out early and sell out.) Bring yen for food and rides. Bring a picnic blanket to enjoy lunch in the beautful Easter egg (fun large egg statues, see pics) park, surrounded by tulips. Grab a large map of the park (they have them in english!) as you enter. ** Also, if you or your kids are into BMX biking, they also have 2 BMX courses to ride! One is for younger children, one is for older kids to adults. I think they also lend out BMX bikes but I did not investigate. See pictures of the BMX track from the ferris wheel.