There is a place in Japan where autumn paints a different picture than usual, where thousands of spherical bushes, the famous Kochia, light up as flames on the Miharashi hill. The Hitachi Seaside Park, in the Ibaraki Prefecture, prepares for 2025 a show that exceeds all expectations with 40,000 Koch plants.
A calendar to mark
The forecasts for 2025 indicate that the chromatic transformation will begin around October 3, when the bushes begin to color. On 11 October it will mark the real start of the autumn foliage, while the intense red peak will be reached around 18 October. If you want to organize a visit, keep in mind that the show, at its maximum splendor, will last about 7/10 days.
These extraordinary plants, also known as “ardent bushes” or Bassia Scoparia – Herbaceous plant belonging to the family of Amaranthaceae -They grow from small shoots of 15 centimeters planted in June until it reaches 70-80 centimeters in height during the summer. The perfectly spherical shape recalls huge cotton balls that decorate the park hills. At the beginning of October they present a gradual nuance of green and red, and in the middle of the month they explode in their characteristic carmine red. Towards the end of October, they turn between red and brown, to become golden between late October and early November.
The park
The Hitachi Seaside park covers 215 hectares, equivalent to about 46 Tokyo Dome (stadium that houses more than 50 thousand people!). The Miharashi hill, the highest point in the city of Hitachinaka with 58 meters, guarantees a splendid view of the sea and on the colored fields. This year the number of Kochia plants has increased compared to 33,000 of the previous year, reaching the record figure of 40,000 specimens.
At the entrance of the Miharashi hill visitors will find a Welcome Garden with about 15 different varieties of plants, including Tagete and Gallo crests. The zigzagging paths that climb the hill will allow you to capture wonderful shots, creating the illusion of floating in a red sea. During the period of Kochia Carnival, which extends until the end of October, the park offers special events, concerts of music bands and about 40 refreshment points where to taste local specialties.
How to reach this Paradise
The journey from Tokyo takes about two hours. From the Tokyo station you take the JR JOBAN LIMITED EXPRESS HITACHI or Tokiwa line to the Katsuta station, with a travel time of about 80 minutes. From Katsuta, local buses connect the station to the park in about 20-25 minutes. Those who prefer the direct bus can start from the South Yaesu exit of the Tokyo station.
For those arriving by car, the Hitachi Seaside Park IC output on the Hitachinaka highway is located just two minutes from the park. Visitors can explore the area on foot, rent bicycles or use the characteristic tourist train that runs along the main avenues.
Beyond the Kochia
The park offers attractions for all seasons: in the spring the fields are tinged with millions of enemophila, while summer brings sunflowers and zinnias. The area also includes an amusement park with 25 attractions, including a 100 -meter high panoramic wheel that gives panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Families will particularly appreciate picnic areas, athletic paths and barbecue areas.
Even the culinary aspect is not to be underestimated, given that the park restaurants offer seasonal menus inspired by the Kochia: from the Koch milk to the Green ice cream Marucoro. Particularly interesting is to discover that Kochia seeds produce tonburns, called “earth caviar” in Japanese cuisine.
Useful information
The mid -October weekend record the greatest influx of visitors. Those looking for tranquility should plan the visit to weekdays. From 27 September to 6 October the park organizes spectacular night lighting, when the kochs are wrapped in colored lights accompanied by music: to underline how much evening events completely transform the atmosphere of the park, creating a dreamlike landscape that contrasts with the daytime view.
The entrance ticket costs 450 yen (about € 2.60) for adults during most of the year, but rises to 800 yen (about € 4.60) during the peak period of the Kochia, from 11 to 27 October. The children of middle and elementary schools enter for free.
For more information, we refer you to the park website.
