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2025/ 1/ 22
Do you know Hitsujiyama Park in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture? Hitsujiyama Park is famous for its moss phlox in spring, and is one of the most popular spots for locals and tourists alike to feel the arrival of spring. In this article, we will introduce how to access Hitsujiyama Park, tips for enjoying the moss phlox to the fullest, highlights within the park, and tourist spots around the park. We hope you will use this article to help you plan your next trip.
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There is an area in Hitsujiyama Park called "Moss Phlox Hill," where in spring you can see a field of moss phlox spreading out like a pink carpet.
The spectacle of over 67 moss phlox plants in full bloom across the 17,600㎡ grounds, roughly the size of 40 tennis courts, is overwhelming. Ten varieties of moss phlox bloom in a variety of colors, including deep pink, white, and pretty purple, and you can enjoy the beauty of the flowers whether you view them from a distance or up close.
Hitsujiyama Park in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, was named "Hitsujiyama" (Sheep Mountain) because it was once home to a breeding farm that handled sheep for wool. There is still a city-run ranch within the park.
In addition to the moss phlox, Hitsujiyama Park offers many spring flowers such as plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, and tulips. In addition to the flowers, there is also an athletic area, the house of Chichibu City's mascot "Potekuma-kun," a shrine, and a museum, making it a place that both children and adults can enjoy.
As it is located on a hilltop, there is also an observation deck overlooking the town of Chichibu, making it a place where you can fully experience the beauty of Chichibu's naturally rich environment.
The Shibazakura Festival is held at Hitsujiyama Park every year from early April to early May. During this period, you can enjoy not only the shibazakura blooming on the hills, but also special stalls at the market, and events at the farm and other areas. The festival sometimes overlaps with one of Japan's major holidays, and the park becomes so crowded with people that traffic restrictions are put into place around the park.
To go to Hitsujiyama Park to see the moss pinks, check how to get there from Tokyo.
The Seibu Railway is a convenient way to travel by train from Tokyo to Hitsujiyama Park. If you take a line from Ikebukuro Station or Seibu Shinjuku Station to Seibu Chichibu Station, the closest station to the park, you can get there smoothly with few transfers.
[Access to Seibu Chichibu Station]
| Travel route | Required Time | Fare (As of 2024 month of 12) |
|---|---|---|
| Ikebukuro → Hanno → Seibu Chichibu | About 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours | 796 yen (IC), 800 yen (ticket) |
| Ikebukuro → Seibu Chichibu (using the Laview Express) | About 1 hours 20 minutes | 1,696 yen (IC), 1,700 yen (ticket) |
| Seibu Shinjuku → Tokorozawa → Hanno → Seibu Chichibu | Approximately 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes | 796 yen (IC), 800 yen (ticket) |
| Seibu Shinjuku → Tokorozawa → Seibu Chichibu (using the Laview Express) | About 2 time | 1,396 yen (IC), 1,400 yen (ticket) |
If you use the Laview express train, which features spacious sofa-style seats, you can enjoy a comfortable train journey while enjoying the scenery along the line through the large windows.
We recommend taking the express train as it will get you there faster.
It's about a 25-minute walk from Seibu Chichibu Station to Hitsujiyama Park, but during the Shibazakura Festival from late April to early May, you can take a free downtown loop bus from facilities around Chichibu Station.
If you go from Tokyo to Hitsujiyama Park by car, it takes about 2 to 2 hours. There is a paid parking lot at Hitsujiyama Park, but it gets very crowded during the moss phlox flowering season, and the park recommends using public transportation. Traffic congestion can make it take a long time to get there, so we recommend taking the train during the festival.
Be sure to also check the blooming periods of the moss pinks to see when is the best time to visit.
The best time to see the moss phlox is from early April to early May, and the Moss Phlox Festival is held to coincide with the moss phlox flowering season.
Entry to Hitsujiyama Park is usually free, but during the Shibazakura Festival, an admission fee is required for junior high school students and above to enter Shibazakura Hill.
During the 2024 Shibazakura Festival, general admission for junior high school students and above will be 300 yen. The fee period will be based on the festival period, but if the peak viewing period has passed, the fee period may end earlier than scheduled.
If you're going to Hitsujiyama Park to see the moss phlox, you'll want to make the most of the scenery. Here are some tips for viewing the moss phlox.
The Shibazakura Festival is held during Japan's Golden Week, which is a popular tourist season and can get very crowded, especially in early May.
If you want to avoid crowds as much as possible, it's best to go on a weekday in April. In early April, the moss pinks may not be in full bloom yet, but Hitsujiyama Park is also famous as a cherry blossom viewing spot, so it's recommended that you can enjoy both. It's also a good idea to choose a time to go, such as early in the morning.
For information on the blooming of the moss pinks, please visit the Chichibu City Tourism Information Site "Chichibu Tourism Navigator""Moss Phlox Hill" pageWe recommend that you check the following.
You can check the state of blooming in detail and view live camera footage, so you can get a detailed idea of the local situation before you go. You can also view the latest brochures, so be sure to check them out before you visit.
If you go to see the moss phlox, you'll want to take some photos. To take a photo that is typical of Hitsujiyama Park, we recommend capturing the moss phlox and Mount Buko towering in the background.
There are three entrances to the park: the Central Entrance, the Shobuda Entrance, and the Une Entrance. If you want to capture Mt. Buko and the moss phlox, it's easier to find a good angle if you enter from the Central Entrance.
The hill is divided into three areas: the northwestern slope area, the eastern slope area, and the southwestern slope area. It will be fun to find photogenic spots in each area.
"Moss Phlox Hill" is only one area within the park. There are other things to see in Hitsujiyama Park, so from here on, we will introduce the other things to see in the park that you can enjoy besides the moss phlox.
Right next to the Shibazakura Hill is the city-run Fureai Ranch. As its name suggests, this is an area where you can interact with sheep. During the Shibazakura Festival, various events are planned, and at the Fureai Ranch, you can see a sheep shearing demonstration.
Hitsujiyama Park is home to many cherry trees, totaling 1,000, including Yoshino cherry, weeping cherry, and double-flowered cherry. The lawn plaza in the center of the park is known as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, where you can enjoy magnificent cherry blossoms in the spring. The best time to see the cherry blossoms is from early to mid-April, which coincides with the Shibazakura Festival, so if you're lucky, you can enjoy both the shibazakura and the cherry blossoms, which is recommended.
The park also has an athletic zone called Wanpaku Square. Wooden playground equipment has been installed, allowing children to play by climbing ropes and crossing log suspension bridges. There is also a Tarzan rope, making this an area that will delight children who want to play to their heart's content.
Hitsujiyama Park is located on a hill, and from the lookout hill on the north side of the park you can get a panoramic view of Chichibu city. This hill is also beautiful in spring, when the cherry blossoms bloom, and you can enjoy the view of Chichibu city along with the cherry blossoms. If you are familiar with anime, you can visit this place as a pilgrimage to the sacred places that appeared in "Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day," also known as "Anohana."
There is a lot to enjoy within Hitsujiyama Park, but there are also many recommended sightseeing spots around the park. From here, we will introduce the highlights around the park.
Chichibu City holds the Chichibu Night Festival every year on December 12nd and 2rd. The Chichibu Night Festival is counted as one of the "Three Great Float Festivals of Japan" along with the Gion Festival in Kyoto and the Takayama Festival in Hida. At the Chichibu Festival Hall, materials related to the festival are on display, and you can virtually experience the atmosphere of the festival day with projection mapping and a 3D theater.
Chichibu Shrine is the main shrine of the Chichibu region. Next to the main hall of Chichibu Shrine is a sculpture of a blue dragon called the "Tsunagi no Ryu." According to legend, this sculpture appeared in the pond every night and was chained down.
If you like Japanese sake, we recommend visiting Buko Sake Brewery, the brewery of Buko Masamune. You can tour the brewery from 8:4am to 30:40pm. The tour takes about XNUMX minutes. You can participate for free if you make a reservation. The Buko Sake Brewery building retains the appearance of an old storefront that remains in Chichibu, and is designated as a registered tangible cultural property.
At Roadside Station Chichibu, you can buy Chichibu soba and other local specialties, as well as eat local delicacies such as miso potatoes, Chichibu croquettes, and black sesame soft serve ice cream. You can also purchase goods featuring Potekuma-kun, the mascot for Chichibu City. On the premises, you can drink "Chichibu Water," which is made from the water of the Chichibu River and the groundwater of Mt. Buko.
The Chichibu area, where Hitsujiyama Park is located, is a place filled with nature. If you are considering a stay that also includes an overnight stay, we recommend Bettei Komura, a villa-style accommodation overlooking the forest.
The luxury suites with private pools also come with semi-open-air baths, and the meal plans allow you to enjoy seasonal Chichibu vegetables and meat at a BBQ.
Why not enjoy a luxurious stay here whether you are a couple, a spouse, a family, or a group traveller?
Mt. Buko, which can be seen from Hitsujiyama Park, is a 1,304m mountain. It is a mountain for intermediate and advanced climbers as the course has many ups and downs, but it is possible to climb it.
The mountain's appearance has changed significantly since it was used as a limestone quarry, but the view from the observation deck remains as beautiful as ever, with the townscape of Chichibu and Yokoze and Hitsujiyama Park below.
Above, we have summarized information about the moss phlox at Hitsujiyama Park, including information about tourist spots in the area. If you want to feel the spring in Japan, we recommend going to see not only the cherry blossoms but also the moss phlox. If you are planning a trip between April and May, why not add the moss phlox at Hitsujiyama Park to your plans?
*This column was created based on information as of June 2025.Please check the official website for the latest information on each facility.
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