Summer and autumn in Japan are often associated with festivals and changing landscapes. But beyond the seasonal celebrations and the changes to the weather and natural scenery, these months also bring a rich variety of flowers into bloom. While spring gets more attention for its cherry blossoms, the months from June onward offer their striking displays.
From early summer to mid-autumn, vibrant blossoms flourish all over, adding bursts of colour to city parks and rural hillsides. For nature lovers and travellers alike, it’s a refreshing way to enjoy Japan’s natural beauty through the shifting seasons.
Hydrangeas
Each June, the Hattori Hydrangea House in Mobara City, Chiba, bursts into colour as over 10,000 hydrangeas bloom. Spanning 250 varieties across 18,000 square metres, the hillside estate is transformed into a vibrant sea of pinks, blues, and whites—shifting shades that reflect the acidity of the soil.
The short blooming period lasts just over a month, making early to late June the best time to visit. This seasonal spectacle is thanks to the year-round care and dedication, led by owner Mr. Hattori and a team of part-time workers who tend to the plants with expert precision.
Visitors to Hattori Hydrangea House can enjoy not only the floral spectacle but also local produce sold during the peak season, such as melons and loquats. These sales mainly help keep entrance fees affordable and support the estate’s upkeep. The estate also offers cultural touches like tea ceremonies, rounding out a visit that blends natural beauty, community spirit, and rural charm.
Lavender
One prominent blossom for the summer season is lavender, and one of the best places to see it in Japan is at Farm Tomita. Farm Tomita in Hokkaido is famous for its vast, orderly fields of lavender that create stunning purple landscapes and fill the air with soothing scents. The farm cultivates five main varieties of lavender, including Hanamoiwa, Okamurasaki, Yotei, Lavandin, and the dark purple Noushihayazaki.
While the farm has flowers blooming from April to October, the iconic lavender fields are best seen from early to late July, with mid-July often considered the peak period when the hillsides are carpeted in vibrant purple. Visitors can also explore the distillery and perfume workshops, enjoy lavender-infused products, and sample the popular lavender-flavoured ice cream.
The farm’s location in the Furano valley offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and countryside, enhancing the experience of wandering through its multiple flower fields. Access is convenient by train, bus, or car, with a special seasonal train stopping nearby during the summer months.
Kochia
Kochia, also known as summer cypress or ‘hokigusa’ in Japanese, is an ornamental plant famed for its round, fluffy shape and dramatic seasonal colour changes. At Hitachi Seaside Park, around 40,000 kochia bushes cover 1.9 hectares of Miharashi no Oka Hill, drawing visitors from mid-July to late October. In summer, the bushes are a vibrant green, shifting to a green-red gradient in early October, before turning a brilliant scarlet in mid-October and golden by late October, making them a striking symbol of autumn in Japan.
The best time to see kochia at its most spectacular is mid to late October, when the bright scarlet hue dominates the hills before fading to golden brown by late October. The park’s Miharashi no Oka Hill is the prime viewing spot, where the colourful kochia contrasts beautifully with the autumn sky.
Cosmos
Cosmos flowers, known as ‘akizakura’ or autumn cherry blossoms, are a classic symbol of Japan’s fall season. Their delicate blooms in pink, white, red, yellow, and orange typically peak from mid-September to mid-October, sometimes lasting into early November. During this time, parks and fields across Japan burst into colourful displays against clear autumn skies, with popular spots like Showa Kinen Park in Tokyo and Tonami Yumenotaira in Toyama drawing many visitors.
The peak viewing time is typically mid-October, though some areas with late-blooming varieties, such as Nokonoshima Island Park in Fukuoka, offer blooms into mid-November. These vibrant displays are often paired with seasonal events and local cuisine, making the cosmos season a scenic and cultural highlight of autumn in Japan.
Exploring these floral highlights provides a refreshing perspective on Japan’s changing seasons, inviting travellers and nature lovers to immerse themselves in vibrant colours and soothing scents across both urban parks and rural settings. Whether wandering through vast flower fields or enjoying regional produce and traditional experiences, the summer and autumn months offer memorable opportunities to appreciate Japan’s rich botanical heritage in full bloom.
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AloJapan.com