Most people visit Ichinoseki City for the Genbikei Gorge and Geibikei Gorge. They are the top spots in Iwate Prefecture to enjoy nature’s blessing. But if you are in the city from spring to autumn, there are a couple of places you can head to to adore seasonal flowers. So, don’t be too disappointed if you can’t visit Japan during the cherry blossom season. Other flowers, such as wisteria, also have their charms!
Ichinoseki’s Flower Spots
- Tsuriyama Park (釣山公園)
- Hanaizumi Flower World (花と泉の公園)
- Michinoku Hydrangea Garden (みちのくあじさい園)
- Tategamori Ark Farm (Ark館ヶ森)
- Arizuka Park (蟻塚公園) and Mt. Murone (室根山)
Tsuriyama Park (釣山公園)
Tsuriyama Park was transformed from the Ichinoseki Castle (一関城). Although the main castle structure was demolished, the Japanese garden, wells, and moat ruins are reminiscent of the glorious castle from a few centuries ago. Because the park is located atop a hill, it is a great spot to overlook Ichinoseki‘s cityscape!
For a convenient yet nice cherry blossom and fall foliage spot close to Ichinoseki Station, visit Tsuriyama Park. Nighttime illumination may be on, especially in autumn! In addition, there are also hydrangea and azalea that you can adore from late spring to early summer.
Note that the park itself is a low mountain. The slopes can be tiring to climb.
- Tsuriyama Park’s cherry blossom season is usually from mid to late April.
- Tsuriyama Park’s fall foliage season is usually from late October to early November.
Tsuriyama Park is a 10-minute walk from JR Ichinoseki Station (一ノ関駅).
Hanaizumi Flower World (花と泉の公園)
In spring and summer, for a stunning photo with gorgeous flowers, visit Hanaizumi Flower World. It is the biggest peony garden in the Tōhoku region. Amongst the 4,000 peonies, there are around 320 peony species. If you plan to visit Ichinoseki between May and early June, the annual Peony Festival (ぼたんしゃくやく祭り) might be on!
Besides peony, wisteria will also be blooming in May!
Various activities are also available for you to join at Hanaizumi Flower World, including making your own stone oven pizza and dried flower and herbs handicrafts.
Tip: The peony season at Hanaizumi Flower World is from late April to early May.
Hanaizumi Flower World’s Opening Hours, Admission Fee, and Access Information
- Hanaizumi Flower World is open from:
- 9 am to 5 pm from April to October
- 10 am to 6 pm from November to March
- The garden is closed on Wednesdays from November to February and from the end of December to the beginning of January.
- The admission cost to the peony garden during the Peony Festival is 700 yen for adults and 350 yen for elementary and junior high school students.
- The admission fee for the Begonia Greenhouse is 800 yen for adults and 400 yen for children.
- From JR Ichinoseki Station (一ノ関駅), take a train to JR Hanaizumi Station (花泉駅). The trip will take around 20 minutes. From Hanaizumi Station, it will be a 5-minute drive to Hanaizumi Flower World.
Michinoku Hydrangea Garden (みちのくあじさい園)
If you visit Ichinoseki in June or July, ensure that Michinoku Hydrangea Garden is on your itinerary. On garden’s vast land of around 150,000㎡, 40,000 hydrangeas of 400 types are growing in the cedar forest. Taking a leisurely walk on the garden’s promenade is the best way to enjoy Japan’s summer.
For more information, refer to our article on Michinoku Hydrangea Garden!
Tategamori Ark Farm (Ark館ヶ森)
Tategamori Ark Farm is a tourist farm with a vast land of approximately 100 hectares! It opened as a place for producers and consumers to meet in 1992. On its vast land, there are organic vegetable farms, and the fresh produce is harvested and used by the organic restaurant in the farm. You can also see and interact with more than twenty kinds of animals living there, including ponies, donkeys, sheep, chickens, deer, goats, and rabbits!
Besides meeting the lovely animals, the farm has three garden areas to entertain your five senses.
Around Japan’s Golden Week (from the end of April to the beginning of May), more than 30,000 tulips will bloom. In early summer, the lavender’s elegant fragrance surrounds the farm. Observation decks and terraces are built next to the flower fields, allowing you to overlook the stunning floral scenery from above.
- The tulip season is usually from mid-April to mid-May.
- You might be able to see both tulip and cherry blossom blooming at the same time in mid-April!
- The lavender season is usually from mid-June to late July.
- The salvia season is usually from mid-September to October.
Joining one of their workshops is another way to enjoy Tategamori Ark Farm. In addition to plant/flower-related workshops, children can also enjoy picking up freshly laid eggs! If you want to experience picking the eggs up only and not bring any eggs back with you, this activity is free to join!
Important: A reservation is usually required for these activities. Refer to HERE for more information.
Tip: The farm also has excursion buses connecting you to various attractions on its vast ground!
Tategamori Ark Farm’s Opening Hours, Admission Fees, and Access Information
- Tategamori Ark Farm is open from:
- 10 am to 5 pm on weekdays
- 10 am to 6 pm on weekends and public holidays
- Note that different facilities on the farm have different business hours.
- The farm will be closed from the end of December to the beginning of January.
- The admission cost is:
- 1,000 yen for adults (1,200 yen during floral season)
- 500 yen for children from 4 to elementary school students (600 yen during floral season)
- Tategamori Ark Farm is a 20-minute drive from JR Hanaizumi Station (花泉駅).
Arizuka Park (蟻塚公園) and Mt. Murone (室根山)
Mt. Murone is the perfect spot to adore cherry blossoms and azaleas while enjoying nature and outdoor activities. It even has an astronomical observatory! On a clear day, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic mountainous and ocean view from the summit.
For more information, refer to our Mt. Murone article!
Discover Other Attractions in Ichinoseki
Ichinoseki is a city with a wealth of beautiful natural landscapes perfect for a weekend getaway from the big city’s hustle and bustle. Besides the flower spots we have mentioned above, a couple more spectacular spots await your discovery. You will also be amazed by the city’s unique mochi culture!
So refer to our Ichinoseki article to discover what more the city can offer!
