Thousands of Icelandic Poppies in Saitama Prefecture.
Information for the annual Icelandic Poppy Fields of Shinrin Park (Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park), Namegawa Town, Saitama. At first they expected prime viewing to be from early to mid April. But (update April 2025) in the end, in 2025, prime viewing is from mid April to end of April. There are approximately 700,000 Icelandic Poppies at Shinrin Park.
Icelandic Poppies
The Icelandic poppies generally bloom from the end of March until the end of April in Shinrin Park. In 2025 they are expected to bloom right into early May. The poppies are grown by the Ponpoko Mountain, the large air trampoline in the center of the park. The area is called the “undo hiroba hatake”. It is about a 20 minute walk, give or take, from both the West and Central gates of the park. It is the same field where they grow sunflowers in summer and kochia with cockscomb in autumn.
Also in bloom
In 2025, they grew “cherry blossom dianthus” (Sakura nadeshiko) beside the icelandic poppies, to grow from the end of April to early May. Also, at the end of April there are several other flowers in bloom in Shinrin Park. For example, the baby blue eyes (nemophila) are still in bloom. The lupine too.
See what else blooms in April in Japan here.
Information
Flower: Icelandic Poppies アイスランドポピー
Season: Very end of March to around the end of April, but until early May in 2025
Hours: 9.30 am to 5 pm
Cost: 450 entrance to fee to the park, no extra charge to view the flowers. The 450 yen fee is for adults only. Children can enter for free. If you want to rent a bike it costs extra. More on that here.
Venue: West or Central Gate of Shinrin Park, officially called Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park, 1920 Yamata, Namegawa, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0802. View on Google Maps.
Access Shinrin Park
The nearest train station is Shinrin Koen Station on the Tobu Tojo line. You can get a bus to the park from the station. You can also get a bus from Kumagaya Station on the Takasaki line. Take the bus bound for Shinrin Koen station and alight at the Shinrin Koen West gate.
On foot the nearest entrance to Shinrin Koen station is the South exit which is about 3 kilometres from the station.
Parking is available at each of the five entrances to Shinrin Park. It is charged by the day: 700 yen. You can find cheaper independently run car parking at both the South and central gates.
More information on Shinrin Park:
Editor’s note: Between 2008 and 2019 this post was about a horse trekking event in the flower fields in Shinrin Park in spring. In 2021 it was republished as an information post about the Icelandic Poppy Season at the park. In 2022 it was moved from the event calendar (which no longer exists) archives to the main blog. Last update: April 2025.
what gorgeous fields! Love it!