[2021 Edition] 15 Sunflower Fields Across Japan to Visit This Summer!

Half of 2021 has already passed, and summer is finally here! When you think of summer, you might picture shaved ice or the sea—but when it comes to summer flowers, many people immediately think of sunflowers.
There are many sunflower fields all over Japan, but this time we’ve carefully selected the largest and most impressive ones, from the north in Hokkaido to the south in Miyazaki.
Just looking at the beautifully blooming sunflowers is sure to warm your heart and bring you a sense of peace. Be sure to create a special summer memory for yourself.

[Hokkaido] Sunflower Fields at Hokkaido Prefectural Sunpillar Park and Chiebun District in Nayoro

Nayoro City is located in the northern region of Hokkaido. In this town, you can enjoy sunflower viewing at two main spots: the Hokkaido Prefectural Sunpillar Park and the MOA Nayoro Farm in the Chiebun District and its surrounding area.
In August, the “Nayoro Sunflower Festival” is scheduled to be held, and the best viewing time is around the Obon holiday in mid-August.

[Hokkaido] Sunflower Fields around Memanbetsu Airport and Asahigaoka Park in Ozora Town

Ozora Town in Hokkaido is known for being home to Memanbetsu Airport. In this area, you can see sunflower fields planted as green manure for wheat at places like Tomappu River Park, Asahigaoka Park, and the area surrounding Memanbetsu Airport.
At the sunflower fields near Memanbetsu Airport, you can take photos that make it look like airplanes are landing directly into a sea of sunflowers.
This year especially, since LCC Peach Aviation has started operating flights to Memanbetsu Airport from Kansai International Airport and Narita Airport, you can look forward to the beautiful contrast between the pink aircraft and the yellow sunflowers.

[Hokkaido] Hokuryu Town Sunflower Village

In Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido, around 1.5 to 2 million sunflowers bloom—making it one of the largest sunflower fields in Japan. There’s a song by Tokiko Kato called Hyakumanbon no Bara (“One Million Roses”), but here, it’s more like “One Million Sunflowers.”
It’s truly overwhelming to see what a million flowers gathered in one place looks like.
Unfortunately, the famous “Hokuryu Town Sunflower Festival” has been canceled, but you can still view the sunflowers themselves.
Be sure to maintain social distancing and avoid crowded situations when visiting.

▼ Travel to Hokkaido on the MOL Ferry “Sunflower”!

The English word for “himawari” is “sunflower”—and that’s the name of a ferry that connects Oarai in Ibaraki Prefecture with Tomakomai in Hokkaido. Though slower than airplanes, the ferry offers comfortable accommodations, including both shared and private rooms.
This ferry is also popular with travelers who want to avoid crowds by using their own cars, those traveling with pets, or those looking for a budget-friendly way to visit Hokkaido. Book your tickets via Skyticket!

[Miyagi Prefecture] Sanbongi Himawari Hill in Osaki City

Second in size only to the field in Hokuryu Town is the Sanbongi Himawari Hill in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Here, 420,000 sunflowers bloom all at once over a 6-hectare field.
The gently blooming sunflowers create a picture-postcard scene that is sure to soothe your soul.
The “Sunflower Festival” at Himawari Hill runs from July 24 to August 16, and there will also be booths selling local specialty products.

[Tochigi Prefecture] Nogi Sunflower Field

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Nogi Town is located at the southernmost tip of Tochigi Prefecture. Sunflowers are a beloved summer tradition here, with approximately 300,000 sunflowers blooming across 4.3 hectares of farmland.
In Nogi Town, a scaled-down version of the Sunflower Festival is scheduled to be held from July 30 to August 1, 2021.
Being quite close to Tokyo, this makes for a great day trip—perhaps combined with a drive through nearby cities like Oyama in Tochigi Prefecture or Koga in Ibaraki Prefecture.

[Ibaraki Prefecture] Sunflower Field at Naka General Park

At the sunflower field in Naka General Park, located in Naka City, Ibaraki Prefecture, about 250,000 sunflowers bloom across a 4-hectare area. The best viewing time is from early to mid-August.

[Ibaraki Prefecture] Akeno Sunflower Village

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At Akeno Sunflower Village in Chikusei City, Ibaraki Prefecture, a total of 1 million sunflowers bloom. You can enjoy the breathtaking view of sunflowers set against the backdrop of Mount Tsukuba towering behind them.
The “Akeno Sunflower Festival” is scheduled to take place from August 28 to September 5, 2021.

[Niigata Prefecture] Ogawa Sunflower Garden

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The Ogawa Sunflower Garden is located about 55 minutes by car from Ryotsu Port, the gateway to Sado in Niigata Prefecture. It lies along the coastal road that circles the island, near the scenic Senkaku Bay. The stunning contrast between the blue Sea of Japan and the bright yellow sunflowers makes it a beautiful spot. There’s also a parking lot, so stop your car and take in the spectacular view.
If taking public transit, get off at “Kamiogawa” on the Niigata Kotsu Sado Kaifu Line.

[Fukui Prefecture] Wakasa Obama Megumi Sunflower Field

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At the Wakasa Obama Megumi Sunflower Field, 30 cm-tall hybrid sunflowers bloom across a vast 5-hectare area.
After the flowers wither in the fall, they are used as fertilizer. The mega farm “Wakasa no Megumi” uses this natural fertilizer to cultivate a specialty sunflower rice without chemical fertilizers.

[Aichi Prefecture] Hana Hiroba Tourist Farm

While sunflowers are typically associated with summer, at Tourist Farm Hana Hiroba, you can enjoy them from June all the way through November (and sometimes into early December).
They receive so many inquiries asking, “How can they bloom for so long?”
Here, you can even have the rare experience of viewing sunflowers right after admiring autumn cosmos flowers.

[Hyogo Prefecture] Awaji Farm Park England Hill

Located on the “Flower Island” of Awaji, Awaji Farm Park England Hill staggers the planting of sunflowers to extend the blooming season, but the main 50,000 sunflowers come into full bloom in mid-August.
Inside the park, you can also see koalas and enjoy various rides and attractions.

[Hyogo Prefecture] Ono City Himawari no Oka Park

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Located in Hyogo Prefecture, Ono City Himawari no Oka Park is a park filled with sunflowers, the official flower of Ono City. About 380,000 sunflowers bloom in full glory.
You’ll also find the Sunflower Tower, made of granite.
This park is also home to the descendants of the “Stubborn Sunflower,” which bloomed amid the rubble in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, after the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami.
By the way, in autumn, the sunflower field transforms into a cosmos field.

[Okayama Prefecture] Roadside Station Kasaoka Bay Farm

Kasaoka City in Okayama Prefecture is famous for horseshoe crabs. At the Roadside Station Kasaoka Bay Farm, sunflowers continue to bloom successively through late August.
This year, many of the flowers are particularly tall, making them especially impressive.
While sunflowers are certainly beautiful, the poppies here are also worth seeing.

[Hiroshima Prefecture] Sera Kogen Farm

At Sera Kogen Farm in Sera Town, Hiroshima Prefecture, the “Sunflower Festival” is held from July 31 to August 22. During this period, an astonishing 1.1 million sunflowers of 60 different varieties come into bloom.
You’ll be amazed to learn that there are that many types of sunflowers!

[Miyazaki Prefecture] Takanabe Town Somegaoka Sunflower Field

Last on the list is the sunflower field in Takanabe Town, Miyazaki Prefecture. This town boasts the largest sunflower field in Japan, with 11 million sunflowers blooming across 80 hectares.
While sunflowers have long been planted here, the large-scale cultivation began in 2010 as a way to uplift the spirits of people affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak that struck the town. They started by planting 5 million sunflowers, and the field has continued to grow in size ever since.
You’ll surely be astonished by the sheer volume of blooming sunflowers.

Visit Sunflower Fields Affordably with “Skyticket Domestic Tours”!

For sunflower field visits, rental cars are a great choice to avoid crowds. With “Skyticket Domestic Tours,” you can book a package that includes airfare, hotel, and rental car—making your trip both convenient and affordable. Take advantage of this opportunity!

◎ Sunflower Field Summary

How did you like it? In 2021, due to COVID-19, some places unfortunately did not plant sunflowers.
However, just like sunflowers that always face the sun, we too should always turn our faces toward the sun of “hope.”
Why not visit a sunflower field this summer, taking care to avoid the “Three Cs” (closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings)?