Information for the seasonal flowers at the Nagatoro Flower Village “Nagatoro Hana no Sato”, which is best known for its Golden Poppies, but currently there are beautiful hydrangea in bloom and the cosmos have started to bloom also.
I debated whether to wait until next year to share this one, as its past prime season. But on the off chance somebody is going to be in Nagatoro in the next few days, I thought it best to share. Furthermore, while the hydrangea are finishing up, the cosmos are only starting to bloom now. Moreover, I’ve actually been sitting on this post already for a few years! In addition, I am going on holidays soon so I might not have the chance to get this post out before the cosmos come into prime season. Which, for the record, is normally September. So, without further ado…
Nagatoro Flowers / Flower Village
The Nagatoro Flower Village is located close to the large white torii for Hodosan Shrine, just a few minutes walk from Nagatoro Station. On the way you pass the famous Kakigori cafe Asami Reizou and behind that there is a blueberry farm, both ideal places to visit at this time of the year!
California Poppies – late spring to early summer
The flower village is most famous for its Golden or Calfornia poppies. They bloom from around mid May to early June. Actually, because they are so well known, the ‘garden’ is often called Nagatoro California Poppy Garden or Hanabishisou Garden in Japanese!
Cosmos – late summer to early Autumn
However, for the last seven years, they’ve actually grown other flowers in the valley at different times of the year! For some reason, while the poppies are widely known, the other flowers don’t seem to be. Although, in 2019 just before the pandemic, the cosmos seemed to be taking off, on social media anyway. Maybe they will increase in popularity this year. They have just started blooming now (early July 2023) but the best time to see them is, generally, in September.
Hydrangea – summer
I feel like the hydrangea are lagging behind (in their popularity), although they are incredibly beautiful. However, this year, Nagatoro added an Instagram spot among the hydrangea, which seems to have done the trick. Unfortunately, not in real time… but hopefully next year the hydrangea can finally bask in the acclamation they deserve! I visited on July 4th 2023 and some of them are withering. However, there were still quite a few in prime condition. It rained last night which I think gave them a lift, but even if it rains again, they won’t last much longer. Maybe a few days if we’re lucky.
These hydrangea really are beautiful – I personally rank them in my top ten favorite places to see hydrangea in Saitama. And they are actually my second favorite place for Annabelle hydrangea. I really like how they line the path and are backdropped by rolling green. Moreover, it is not just white Annabelle hydrangea. There are also other colors of hydrangea. Some of them are on the hill by the Annabelle, but if you walk into the woods, there are even more colored hydrangea.
Easy hikes
The woods are on the south west corner of the garden. There are a couple of different trails in the woods. It is a popular place for easy hiking. The Hodosan ropeway parking lot is only a 360 meters walk from the hydrangea area of the woods. From there, there are other trails that go to the top of Mt Hodo. Or you can take the vibrant yellow “Bambi” (the name of the ropeway carriage) to the top of the mountain!
>>I coupled this with a visit to the stunning mountain hydrangea of Minoyama Park.
Information
Event: Hydrangea at Nagatoro Flower Village 花の里「アナベル・ハナビシソウ園」「アナベル・ハナビシソウ園」
(California Poppies in May ~ early June / Cosmos in August ~ September)
Season: mid June to early July
Time: 9 am to 4 pm
Cost: 200 yen, when there is no-one at the reception office, you can leave the money in a box.
Venue: Nagatoro Flower Village 長瀞町花の里「アナベル・ハナビシソウ園」, 1164 Nagatoro, Chichibu District, Saitama 369-1305. View on Google Maps. (Its called Nagatoro California Poppy Garden on Google maps).
Access
The flowers are about a seven or eight minute walk from Nagatoro Station. There is parking for about 20 cars right in front of the main entrance to the flower village.
The hydrangea update page on Nagatoro Tourism Site. | The official web page for the California / Golden Poppies.
lookss like a pretty place!