Poppies with a backdrop of Mount Tsukuba (Photo: BJ TENKINZOKU / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Poppy Season at Kokaigawa Fureai Park

Around 2 million poppies to enjoy in Ibaraki

Poppies with a backdrop of Mount Tsukuba (Photo: BJ TENKINZOKU / CC BY-SA 2.0)
Kim Bergström   - 1 min read

Each year during spring, Ibaraki's Kokaigawa Fureai Park comes alive with the color of around two million poppies in bloom. There are so many flowers that the ground almost looks blanketed by them, and the addition of Mount Tsukuba as a backdrop makes this park a photographer's delight. The poppy flowering period is typically throughout the month of May, and updates about their status will be posted on the park website (in Japanese).

The venue is divided into "zones", and along with the flower zone, visitors can also enjoy a children's zone filled with play equipment, a sports zone comprising of 4 softball fields and a soccer field, and even a barbecue zone where you can grill some lunch and make a day out of your visit (reservations are required).

Getting there

For those driving to the park, it's around 45 minutes from the Joban Expressway's Yawara IC. Free parking is available on-site.

For those who plan to utilize public transport, head to Shimotsuma Station on the Kanto Railway's Joso Line. From there, take the Kanto Railway Purple Bus bound for Tsuchiura Station and the Tsukuba Center for about 10 minutes until you reach the park.

Kim Bergström

Kim Bergström @kim.b

Almost 12 years living in Asia. Passionate about Japan's off-the-beaten-path spots, family-friendly travel, flower events (all of them!) and the amazing tea culture here.  🍵🌼🌸