Hitachi Seaside Park, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, Japan

Hitachi Seaside Park is a public park in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, Japan. The park is situated on sand dunes formed  through a combination of silt from the Kuji River and north-easterly winds. Warm and cold  currents mingle in the Pacific Ocean off the Ibaraki Coast, allowing both northern and  southern climate plants to flourish within in the park. As well as stunning seasonal flowers  throughout the year, Hitachi Seaside Park is also home to the Pleasure Garden amusement  park, 8 hectares of grassland, a forest adventure playground and BBQ area. Convenient  access from Tokyo helps make Hitachi Seaside Park a popular tourist destination.

The Miharashi no Oka Hill area of Hitachi Seaside Park must be seen to be believed during the Spring, when blue nemophila flowers cover the  park’s hills, and again in Autumn when kochia bushes form a fluffy red carpet. However, this  was not always the case. The area was formerly home to a military airport known as Higashi-Mito Airport, and then to a US Air Force firing and bombing range after the war. Due to the  presence of residential buildings close to the practice areas, there were repeated  incidents involving mis-firings and accidental bombings, including some which resulted  in deaths. This resulted in a movement by local people requesting the return of the land, and  in March 1973 the area was returned to the Japanese government. Local people wished  to turn the area into a park as a symbol of peace, and thus Hitachi Seaside Park was born. The  hills that had been the target for countless bullets and bombs were transformed into a  paradise of flowers.

Covering an area of 350 hectares, the park features blooming flowers around the year. The park has become known for its baby blue-eyes flowers, with the blooming of 4.5 million of the translucent-petaled blue flowers in the spring drawing tourists. In addition to the annual "Nemophila Harmony", the park features a million daffodils, 170 varieties of tulips, and many other flowers. The park includes cycling trails and a small amusement park with a Ferris wheel.

As a state-run park, Hitachi Seaside Park strives to work alongside local people and provide opportunities for lifelong learning. The ‘Park Partners’ scheme was founded in 1999 and currently includes around 450 volunteers from accross 14 local organisations.

Hitachi Seaside Park also features a small amusement park with over 25 rides and attractions, including a 100 meter tall Ferris wheel, putter golf, a BMX course and a roller coaster among others. Most of the rides and activities require extra fees. Restaurants and rest areas are scattered throughout the park, and a BBQ area is available for picnics.

Due to the size of the park, there are two other methods of getting around besides walking. Rental bicycles are available starting from 450 yen for three hours of use, and almost eleven kilometers of cycling paths - separate from pedestrian paths - allow easy access to the different areas of the park. A small train (on tires) also travels the perimeter of the park with stops at numerous locations. The train costs 600 yen for a 1-day pass.

 

The park's iconic flower is the blue nemophila, which covers Miharashi Hill in the spring and mimics the color of the sky. The flowers are usually at their peak from late April to mid May. Paths crisscross the hill providing views over the Pacific Ocean and the rest of the park. In fall, the hill is covered by green kokia bushes which slowly turn red as the weather turns cooler. These autumnal colors are usually best from early to mid October.

Hitachi Seaside Park also hosts the Rock in Japan Festival in August every year. The nearest railway station is Ajigaura Station on the Minato Line of the Hitachinaka Seaside Railway and Hitachi Seaside Park is about two hours from Tokyo by public transportation.

For more information - Hitachi Seaside Park