Fukushima Hanamiyama park is one of the prime flower viewing spots in Fukushima Prefecture. Located just outside Fukushima City, Fukushima Hanamiyama is popular with visitors thanks to its lovely Cherry Blossoms.
About Fukushima Hanamiyama Park
Fukushima Hanamiyama is situated on a quaint hill surrounded by farmland. Before its opening to the public in 1959, it was a spot where farmers in the area planted celebratory plants for special occasions.
The park is cultivated by the Abe family since before its inception. The Abe family wanted to create a beautiful spot in remembrance of their grandmother who used to travel and try and sell flowers to anyone who would buy them. Now taken care of by the third generation of the Abe family, they continue to maintain the park which is situated on their land.
Popularity befell the park in 1979 when it was the backdrop to a popular photography exhibition. Since then, the Abe family has used the park as a way to show the healing nature of Fukushima. This was true when the park opened after World War II and became true again after the 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake on March 11th, 2011.
Fukushima Hanamiyama is a work of art. As an oasis in a small rural area, a one-hour stroll around the park will let you experience over 60 species of Japanese flower and pant. On a clear day, you’ll be able to see the gorgeous Azuma-Bandai Skyline in the distance, elevating the beauty to new extremes.
Hanamiyama Cherry Blossoms
If you’re planning to visit Fukushima in April, seeing the Hanamiyama Cherry Blossoms is a must. As the prime cherry blossom viewing spot in Fukushima, Hanamiyama has all types of blossoms to view throughout the park. Of the blossoms, you’ll be able to see the flower of Japan, the cherry blossom, the plum blossom and other varieties of flower.
During the spring season, the Azuma-Bandai Skyline in the background may still be capped with snow. With the colorful pinks and oranges in the foreground, this spot is truly a magical place to be.
Hanamiyama, roughly translated from Japanese to English means “Flower Viewing Mountain.” This name truly reflects the nature of the hilly park as in spring and autumn, this is one of the best places to view Japan’s flora.
Hanamiyama Price of Admission
As the Abe family wanted everyone to be able to experience the beauty of their cultivated flowers, the Hanamiyama price of admission is free. The park is open all year round, depending on the weather. While the park is open at all hours, the park is a private residence, so a night time walk is not recommended as to not disturb the Abe family.
The visitor center at the entrance to the park teaches you a more in-depth history of the park, the Abe family and the support from the local community. Most of the signage in the park are in Japanese, but that doesn’t stop you from stopping and smelling the flowers.
How to Get to Hanamiyama
How to get to Hanamiyama depends on how far you want to walk, how much you want to spend and what time of the year it is. During the springtime, a shuttle bus runs from Fukushima Station to Hanamiyama and back every 30 to 45 minutes. The shuttle only takes 15 minutes from the train station and costs 250 yen for a one-way trip.
If you don’t mind walking, the route from Fukushima Station only takes under an hour. Weather permitting, this could be a lovely way to experience Fukushima City as you’ll be going from the city center to the outskirts of the city.
Alternatively, if you’re heading to the park outside of spring and don’t feel like walking, you can catch a taxi. A taxi from Fukushima Station takes the same amount of time as the shuttle bus at 15 minutes and costs roughly 1,500-yen one way.
Spot information
- Spot name: Hanamiyama Park
- Street address: 1-1 Sakae-machi, Fukushima, Fukushima 960-8031
- Access: A shuttle bus is offered during spring, outside of spring it’s an hour walk from Fukushima Station, or 15 minutes by taxi
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