Moss Phlox Blankets Hokkaido Park in One of Japan's Largest Floral Displays

Shibazakura (moss phlox) is in full bloom at Shibazakura Takinoue Park in the hilly town of Takinoue, Hokkaido. The attraction traces back 69 years to a single box of seedlings and has since grown into one of Japan’s largest floral displays, covering around 100,000 square meters (about 1.08 million sq ft).

Takinoue Town sits in Hokkaido’s Okhotsk region, about 240 km (149 miles) from Sapporo—roughly a three-hour drive. The park greets visitors with a soft sweet fragrance. An early snowmelt this year prompted the town to declare peak bloom on April 28, the earliest on record since town-wide planting began in 1957. The Shibazakura Festival, running from May 1 to 31, has been drawing visitors since the start of the season.

The park is open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with last entry at 5:00 PM. During the blooming period, admission is ¥500 (about $3) for high school students and older, and ¥250 for elementary and junior high school students.

From Recovery to Floral Landmark

The park was originally known for cherry blossoms until it suffered severe damage from Typhoon Marie in 1954 and subsequent pest infestations. The park manager at the time turned to moss phlox for its wind resistance and pleasant fragrance. He found naturally growing plants on the grounds of a nearby temple, obtained a box of seedlings, and began planting them—marking the start of the park’s transformation.

To capture the full view, a drone was flown early in the morning before opening hours, with permission from the town and relevant authorities. From about 100 meters above, the moss phlox looked like a massive pink carpet.

Drone-view of Shibazakura Takinoue Park. (©Sankei/Takahiro Sakamoto)

Up close, the blooms show variations in shade, from white to purple-tinged. Despite cloudy skies during filming from a drone, the colors remained vivid—and as the sky cleared, the blossoms grew even more brilliant.

Around 30,000 people visit each year during the one-month blooming season in May. Yoshitaka Takahashi, a Sapporo resident who photographs the flowers every year, has visited for three years running. “The flowers are carefully maintained and beautiful,” he said with a smile.

The park’s walking paths wind through hilly, sloped terrain. To help elderly visitors and families with young children get around, an electric sightseeing vehicle runs a 15-minute loop for ¥500 per person, with a guide-driver providing commentary along the way.

An electric sight-seeing vehicle. (©Sankei/Takahiro Sakamoto)

Doraemon-Inspired Photo Spot

This season, electric wheelchair rentals have also been introduced at ¥500 per hour. The town’s tourism association, which manages the park, is working to promote universal tourism so that everyone can enjoy the site regardless of mobility. Staff say the goal is to make the experience comfortable for all visitors.

Additionally, a pink “Anywhere Door,” inspired by the Doraemon manga series and painted to match the moss phlox, has been installed on the upper slope. From there, visitors can also enjoy the striking contrast between lingering snow on the Kitami Mountains and the flower-covered hills below.

Because the park is so vast, it is difficult to capture the entire landscape from inside the grounds. Sweeping panoramic views are better taken from a shrine across from the park or from nearby town roads. As of May 14, the blooms were about 70–80% open, with the season expected to last until the end of the month.

(Read the article in Japanese.)

Author: Takahiro Sakamoto, The Sankei Shimbun