The spring months in Japan have no shortage of color to enjoy, and Chiba Prefecture is packed with destinations to appreciate the season’s floral beauty. This list covers five great locations to enjoy springtime flowers, centered around the month of April.
Tulips at Akebonoyama Agricultural Park
Looking like a scene straight out of the Netherlands - complete with a windmill and all - the Akebonoyama Agricultural Park is filled with around 160,000 tulips across 1.2 hectares during April. The park is revered for its beauty year-round, with a host of other delights to enjoy outside the spring season – there are sunflowers during summer and cosmos flowers during autumn to name just a couple.
2005-2 Fuse, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0825
Wisteria at Myofukuji Temple
Myofukuji Temple is often referred to as the wisteria temple thanks to a 750-year-old wisteria tree on the grounds, and in typical years a festival is held while the flowers are at their best. The temple conveniently posts the status of the ethereal purple blooms on their official website (you can see last year’s flowering progression here), so that visitors can perfectly time their trip.
1465 Myokencho, Choshi, Chiba 288-0811
Shibazakura at Country Farm Tokyo German Village
Chiba’s Tokyo German Village is a fun destination for a day trip at any time of year, and the venue is home to a children’s petting zoo, spacious playground areas, opportunities to dig your own potatoes, and even a dog run for your canine companions to enjoy. Visit during April and an additional highlight awaits you – one of the Kanto region’s largest displays of shibazakura, also known as moss phlox.
419 Nagayoshi, Sodegaura, Chiba 299-0204
Nanohana and Nemophila at Mother Farm
Mother Farm is an ultra-popular destination for families given the multitude of child-friendly activities found here. There are opportunities to meet and feed various farm animals, enjoy amusement park rides, take part in hands-on activities, and appreciate seasonal blooms. Two of the floral springtime attractions here are baby blue eyes (also known as nemophila) and vibrant yellow nanohana, which blanket the ground as far as the eye can see.
940-3 Tagura, Futtsu, Chiba 299-1731
Azaleas at Shimizu Park
Azalea fans should look no further than Noda City’s Shimizu Park to get their floral fix. The park grounds are filled with an impressive 20,000 azaleas in approximately 100 varieties that bloom from late April to early May, ensuring a bounty of color for visitors to enjoy. For those visiting earlier in the spring season, the park is also known for its plum and cherry blossom trees – it even features on the list of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots.
906 Shimizu, Noda, Chiba 278-0043
