Each year around October, Ibaraki's Kokaigawa Fureai Park comes alive with the color of thousands of cosmos flowers in bloom. There are so many flowers here that the ground almost looks blanketed by them, which is even more breathtaking when paired with the backdrop of Mount Tsukuba.
The park here is divided into "zones", and along with the flower zone, visitors can also enjoy a children's zone filled with play equipment, a sports zone comprising of 4 softball fields and a soccer field, and even a barbecue zone where you can grill some lunch and make a day out of your visit (reservations are required).
Getting there
For those driving to the park, it's around 45 minutes from the Joban Expressway's Yawara IC. Free parking is available on-site.
For those who plan to utilize public transport, head to Shimotsuma Station on the Kanto Railway's Joso Line. From there, take the Kanto Railway Purple Bus bound for Tsuchiura Station and the Tsukuba Center for about 10 minutes until you reach the park.
Kim Bergström @kim.b
Almost 12 years living in Asia. Passionate about Japan's off-the-beaten-path spots, family-friendly travel, flower events (all of them!) and the amazing tea culture here. 🍵🌼🌸
