Mid-May is the best time to visit to see the delicate red, white, and pink moss phlox flowers in bloom.

If any scenery could be said to be representative of spring in Hokkaido it would be the lavender-colored fields of Shibazakura stretching out under the broad expanse of the blue sky.

The shibazakura flowers planted in the park cover an area of about 10 hectares (25 acres). Carpets of Hokkaido pink moss phlox extend up to the tops of the surrounding hills.

When in full bloom, they present a beautiful scene extending like a velvet carpet, their fragrance filling the air, and further alluring visitors.

The Higashimokoto Shibazakura Festival is annually timed to align with the peak bloom period of the flowers. As of February 2024, the dates for that year's festival remain unannounced. However, the event in 2023, which took place from May 3 to June 5, can provide a guideline.

The festival features a variety of stage performances and offers an array of local gourmet cuisine, incorporating dairy, vegetables, and seafood from the Higashimokoto and Okhotsk areas. The event caters to a wide audience, ensuring that both adults and children find enjoyment in the numerous activities available.

Pathways in the park are well-maintained, allowing for enjoyable 30-minute to one-hour strolls. Also, during the festival period a truck is outfitted with seats for touring the park. This is ideal for those who have trouble walking, such as young children or the elderly. From it the scenery of the park can be enjoyed and it is also possible to go up to the top of the hills.

There is an observatory on the top of the hill. From here you can get a dynamic view of the whole park. The contrast between the carpet of shibazakura and the broad expanse of blue sky will long remain in your memory.

The Hokkaido shibazakura is not the only attraction in the park! You can spend the entire day with family and friends enjoying the various activities such as the go-kart course and a pond where you can fish for yamame, a kind of trout.

There are also natural hot spring facilities and foot baths in the park! This is a chloride hot spring that warms you through and through and leaves your skin with a pleasing glow. This is a clear, gravity-fed hot spring.

There is also a Shinto shrine within the park. Taking the stairs up the hill you will come to a Torii gate the same color as the Hokkaido shibazakura. Passing under it and making your way to the top you’ll come upon a small shrine.

The Yamatsumi shrine was erected in 1913 by people who came from the Soma-gun region of Fukushima Prefecture to worship the mountain god Oyamatsumi.

People pray to this god for matters relating to agriculture, successful business, bountiful marine catches, hunting, finding a suitable marriage partner, being blessed with children, safe childbirth, safe journeys, and traffic safety.

Shibazakura heralds the late arrival of spring in Hokkaido and the blooming of flowers. This landscape is bound to move anyone who sees it and leaves them with unforgettable memories of it. The warm weather of late spring makes it the ideal season for sightseeing in Hokkaido. We certainly hope you will come and enjoy it, too.

(*The Shibazakura Festival dates fluctuate depending on when the flowers are in full bloom. For details, check the official Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park Website.)

The story behind the origin of this park is a moving one. Mr. Suekichi Nakahachi (1918 - 2002) was a farmer who grew Hokkaido shibazakura in his garden. The park got its start in 1977 when the Mokotoyama Hot Spring Association asked for his help in creating a place of relaxation for the village using shibazakura.

This prompted Mr. Nakahachi to give up farming and join the association at the age of 58. He began clearing the hillsides by himself and planting seedlings of shibazakura one at a time.

It took about eight years for the hills to be transformed into the pink carpets as they appear today. Mr. Nakahachi continued to care for the shibazakura for 22 years until he retired at 80 in 2001.

One cannot help but be amazed that a single individual planted each plant at a time to create this beautiful landscape.

At the foot of Mt. Mokoto, in the charming Higashimokoto area of Ozora Town in the Okhotsk region, Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park is a delightful spot open to visitors every year from May 3 to September 30.

Getting there is a breeze, whether you're coming from a 45-minute scenic drive from downtown Abashiri City or a quick 30-minute trip from Memanbetsu Airport.

As the pink moss phlox flowers burst into bloom, people from all corners of Japan, and increasingly from around the globe, flock to the park in cars and buses. It's become a beloved sightseeing jewel for both locals and international tourists alike, offering a picture-perfect experience you won't want to miss.

*All photos were taken before 2016. Photos provided by the Shibazakura Park Authority and Ozora Town Office Regional Promotion Division Industry Group.

Written by: Etsuro Nagao