【contents】
1：The landmark of Ibaraki Prefecture!
2：Many people on the pedestrian trail!
3：The Tulip Field!
4：Trying sweet potato sweets.
1：The landmark of Ibaraki Prefecture!
The other day a friend of mine showed me a picture of Miharashi Hills, where Nemophila flowers were blooming. I was instantly fascinated and decided to go on a bus tour at the end of April to Hitachi Seaside Park. Miharashi Hills is the landmark of Ibaraki.
I went by bus, but you can also go by car and public transportation. On the weekends during the Nemophila season, it will be very congested around the IC and parking area, so please make sure to plan your trip carefully.
This park is divided into 7 different areas and includes a cycling path, so you can tour the park by bike. If you don’t have a bike, they also have a seaside train available. I also saw some people who were taking their dog for a walk.
2：Many people on the pedestrian trail!
As I walked towards the flower field, there were more and more people.
I was very surprised by the blue Nemophila and vivid yellow rape flowers in the field. The amount of people on the pedestrian trail was also very surprising!
The oldest Japanese house in Eastern Japan, “Sato-no-ie”, is located at the front of the hills and was built in the early Edo period. You can see the beautiful *carp streamers blowing in the wind in the distant blue sky.
*Carp streamers：They are used in a tradition from the Edo period. On 5th May, they are used as decorations in hopes for boys good health and growth.
I walked toward the top of the Miharashi Hills and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the Nemophila.
On the top of the hill, there is a bell called “Miharashi’s bell”, and there were many people waiting to ring it.
The bell is located in the middle of japan and there is a sign showing its distance from Hawaii and Australia.
You can see the Pacific Ocean and Park from the hills.
3：The Tulip Field!
After leaving Miharashi Hills, I found the tulip field, “Tamago-no-mori Flower Garden”.
The colors and shapes of tulip are very different, and are all very beautiful!
It makes me smile just seeing them.
It was my first time seeing so many flowers, I was really moved!
4：Trying sweet potato sweets.
There are many sweets to try in the park. I wanted to eat Melon bread (Plain 150 yen/ Melon crème 180 yen) exclusively sold here, but there were too many people standing in line. Did you know that Ibaraki produces the most melons in Japan?
There are also other food vendors in the park, but all of them had so many people waiting in line. The vendor for the Dried Potato Donuts (350 yen) wasn’t very busy, so I was able to try some. It’s next to the Tsubasa gate.
Ibaraki is famous for its sweet potato production, 2nd to Kagoshima Prefecture. Surprisingly, the donuts I ordered were frozen!
The staff told me to wait 5 minutes to eat them, so I warmed them with my hands, but you should actually wait more than 5 minutes until they’re completely thawed.
They taste better after they’re completely thawed. Next time I hope to try the melon bread too.
You can also buy Nemophila for 250 yen.
You can check the blooming schedule from the link below.
●Flower Calendar in Spring
Early May to the second half of June: Poppies
The second half of May to the early June/early November：Roses
●Flower Calendar in Summer
Early July to the middle of July: Lavender
The middle of August to the second half of August: Sunflowers
●Flower Calendar in Fall
Early October to the middle of October: Kokia and Ryukyu Hagi
Early October to the second half of October: Cosmos
●Flower Calendar in Winter
Early December：Metasequoia trees
The middle of February to the middle of March：Daffodils
