HOME Tokyo and Surroundings Ibaraki Ibaraki Suburbs Soon, A Sea of Scarlet: Enjoy Hitachi Seaside Park's Stunning Autumn Blooms This Year
Soon, A Sea of Scarlet: Enjoy Hitachi Seaside Park's Stunning Autumn Blooms This Year

Soon, A Sea of Scarlet: Enjoy Hitachi Seaside Park's Stunning Autumn Blooms This Year

Last updated: 8 October 2025

Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture is one of Japan’s most spectacular places to experience the beauty of autumn. Every year, the park’s famous kochia plants blanket Miharashi Hill in vivid shades of red, transforming the landscape into a sea of color that attracts visitors from around the world.

As of early October, the kochia are typically still bright green, gradually deepening to red around mid-month. Visitors planning a trip in 2025 can look forward to the same breathtaking transition, when the entire hill glows crimson against the clear autumn sky. Once the latest photos become available this season, we’ll update this article to show you exactly how the park looks this year.

(Main Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)

Table of Contents
  1. Kochia’s Peak Season at Hitachi Seaside Park
  2. Cosmos, Soba Flowers, and More at Hitachi Seaside Park
  3. Instagram-Worthy Photo Spots
  4. Photo Gallery: Look at Hitachi Seaside Park!
  5. Recommended Photo Spots for This Year
  6. Seasonal Sweets: A Taste of Autumn
  7. Plan Your Visit

Kochia’s Peak Season at Hitachi Seaside Park

Kochia dyeing the entire hill red (Photo taken on October 20, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)
Kochia dyeing the entire hill red (Photo taken on October 20, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)

Each year, around 40,000 kochia plants of the “Rouge” variety cover roughly 2.3 hectares of Miharashi Hill. These fluffy, round plants—historically used for making brooms—turn from vivid green to crimson red, creating a breathtaking contrast with the blue sky and nearby flower fields.

(Images: Hitachi Seaside Park)
(Images: Hitachi Seaside Park)

The color transformation begins in early October, reaches its most vivid hues around October 18–20, and gradually shifts to a warm, burnt-brown tone by late October. The kochia’s dense coverage gives the illusion of a rolling, red carpet across the hill, making it one of Japan’s most iconic autumn views.

Cosmos, Soba Flowers, and More at Hitachi Seaside Park

Miharashi Hill Cosmos (Photo Taken: October 20, 2024, Image; Hitachi Seaside Park)
Miharashi Hill Cosmos (Photo Taken: October 20, 2024, Image; Hitachi Seaside Park)

Beyond the kochia, the park boasts a colorful variety of autumn blooms, including 2.36 million cosmos and about 530,000 soba (buckwheat) flowers.

These delicate flowers add pastel shades of pink and white to contrast with the red kochia, creating a colorful and diverse autumn display.

The cosmos are in full bloom from mid to late October. Their soft tones provide a beautiful backdrop to the kochia’s deepening reds, enhancing the overall charm of the park’s autumn scenery.

Meanwhile, at the Welcome Garden, visitors can stroll among about 20,000 blooms from 25 flower varieties between mid-August and late October, including marigolds and blue salvia that complement the kochia season beautifully.

Nearby, around 700 Multiflora Mums in two varieties also reach their best viewing period in mid- to late October, adding bursts of yellow, pink, and purple to the Miharashi-no-Sato area.

For visitors coming slightly later, the Hitachi Rose Garden offers another highlight toward the end of the season. Around 1,800 roses representing 120 varieties bloom between late October and early November, providing a graceful finale to the park’s autumn flower display.

Instagram-Worthy Photo Spots

Miharashi-no-Sato Soba (Photo Taken: October 20, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)
Miharashi-no-Sato Soba (Photo Taken: October 20, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)

For those seeking the perfect autumn photo, Miharashi Hill offers panoramic views of the colorful fields. The combination of kochia and cosmos really create an ideal spot for photography. The meandering paths within the park also provide immersive opportunities to capture the season’s beauty.

Photo Gallery: Look at Hitachi Seaside Park!

Browse the gallery below to see how Hitachi Seaside Park’s autumn landscapes have looked last year. Once this year’s kochia and cosmos reach their peak, we’ll update the photos to show the park in its latest vibrant form.

Sensation Mix Cosmos (Photo Taken: October 20, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)
Sensation Mix Cosmos (Photo Taken: October 20, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)
Crested Red Cosmos (Photo Taken: October 13, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)
Crested Red Cosmos (Photo Taken: October 13, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)

Buckwheat (Soba) Flowers

Miharashi-no-Sato Soba (Photo Taken: October 20, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)
Miharashi-no-Sato Soba (Photo Taken: October 20, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)

At Miharashi-no-Sato, visitors can look forward to the gentle contrast of white “Hitachi Aki Soba” blossoms and the vivid red “Takane Ruby” variety. These soba flowers typically bloom from mid- to late October, adding a soft yet striking accent to the park’s autumn scenery.

Hitachi Aki Soba (Photo Taken: October 20, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)
Hitachi Aki Soba (Photo Taken: October 20, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)
Takane Ruby (Photo Taken: October 19, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)
Takane Ruby (Photo Taken: October 19, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)

Multiflora Mums

Miharashi-no-Sato Multiflora Mums (Photo Taken: October 20, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)
Miharashi-no-Sato Multiflora Mums (Photo Taken: October 20, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)

Adding a touch of elegance to the park’s autumn landscape, Multiflora Mums bloom in shades of yellow, pink, and purple at Miharashi-no-Sato. These compact flowers typically reach their peak from mid- to late October, enriching the view with their cheerful colors.

Photo Taken: October 6, 2024 (Image:Hitachi Seaside Park)
Photo Taken: October 6, 2024 (Image:Hitachi Seaside Park)
Photo Taken: October 19, 2024 (Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)
Photo Taken: October 19, 2024 (Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)

Recommended Photo Spots for This Year

Welcome Garden

Welcome Garden (Photo Taken: October 20, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)
Welcome Garden (Photo Taken: October 20, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)

This area showcases a variety of 15 colorful flower species, including marigolds and blue salvia. Capture stunning photos as you walk the winding paths, creating the illusion of standing amidst the flower fields.

Entrance Door to the Flower Field

Entrance to the Flower Field (Photo Taken: October 20, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)
Entrance to the Flower Field (Photo Taken: October 20, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)

Last year, a new photogenic spot was added to highlight the beauty of the soba fields. Here, you can capture the colorful scene with kochia, cosmos, and soba flowers in the background.

"HITACHI" Monument

"HITACHI" Monument (Photo Taken: October 20, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)
"HITACHI" Monument (Photo Taken: October 20, 2024; Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)

A new monument spelling out “HITACHI” was introduced as a photo spot last year. Take photos here with the kochia plants nearby for a perfect park memory.

Seasonal Sweets: A Taste of Autumn

Marukoro Kochia Softcream (Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)
Marukoro Kochia Softcream (Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)

During the event, there are many sweets made with local ingredients.

Kochia Latte (Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)
Kochia Latte (Image: Hitachi Seaside Park)

During this period, visitors can enjoy a wide range of local Ibaraki specialties, from hearty meals made with regional ingredients to seasonal sweets. Popular dishes include park favorites like Ham-yaki (grilled ham skewers) and Kochia Curry. For dessert, don’t miss the autumn classic Marukoro Kochia Soft ice cream, the vivid red Kochia Latte, or the Kochia Blend coffee made with beans from the renowned local café Saza Coffee.

Cafes and Restaurants
Kinen no Mori Rest House
A serene café terrace opened in April 1997 to commemorate the Emperor’s marriage. Enjoy original blend coffee and locally made desserts amid sun-dappled pines and seasonal flowers. From the deck, watch wild birds like white-eyes bathing in the reflecting pool. Renovated in March 2017.
・Hours: 10 AM–1 hour before park closing (varies by season)
・Location: West Gate Area (Stop 8: Kinen no Mori Rest House)
Glass House
A glass-walled café terrace offering sweeping Pacific Ocean views. At the Sea Side Café, enjoy Japanese black tea and light meals while relaxing in sunlight and stillness.
・Hours: 9:30 AM–1 hour before park closing (varies by season)
・Location: Dune Area (Stop 5: Seaside Terrace)
Lakeside Café
Unwind by the fountain with light snacks and drinks at this takeout café with waterfront terrace seating. A small souvenir shop is also attached.
・Hours: 9:30 AM–park closing (varies by season)
・Location: West Gate Area (Stop 10: West Gate – Wings Gate)

Plan Your Visit

Just two hours from Tokyo, Hitachi Seaside Park offers a breathtaking display of autumn color.

Whether you come for the stunning kochia, the delicate cosmos, or the many other autumn blooms, make sure to visit soon before the colors fade!

(This article was updated in October 2025; for the latest details, see the official website below.)

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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