7 Hokkaido Flower Parks Most Tourists Don’t Know

“Hokkaido’s flower parks are overcrowded“? No, this is not true!

I would say, “Tourists are only crowding the touristy parks.“ Like the famous Farm Tomita in Furano, or Shikisai no Oka in Biei.

As a local who grew up in Hokkaido, I know off-the-beaten (but as beautiful) flower parks that many tourists don’t know.

So here are the 7 best flower parks you should visit in Eastern Hokkaido.

Many of them are accessible by public transportation. Some are even open to the public for free! They are perfect additions to your itinerary, if you are on a budget but still want to enjoy nice and colorful views.

Let’s dive in!

1. Shiba Sakura Park in Higashi Mokoto (May)

This is one of my favorite flower parks since when I was little. This photo is me and my sister maybe back in 1999?

From early May to early June, two hills in Higashi Mokoto come alive with bright pink, cute little flowers – moth phlox, also known as “shiba sakura” in Japanese as its color resembles sakura (cherry blossom).

The views are amazingly beautiful, making a great backdrop for couples or family photos. There are many walking paths to explore and take in the view.

If you want to go easy, take a mini truck ride going up the hills and enjoy the panorama views (400 yen for a round trip).

Wondering how this park started? It all started right after World War II, when a local farmer’s sister brought home a small handful of moss phlox from a nearby town.

In 1977, a man named Suekichi Nakabachi, a farmer in his late 50s, was asked by the local hot spring management association to turn the hillside into a place where villagers and visitors could enjoy flowers.

He quit farming to take the job, and for 3 years hauled seedlings from his home by hand cart. Working alone on steep slopes where no machinery could reach, he spent 8 years clearing the land by hand and planting each seedling one by one.

He took care of the park for 22 years, and finally retired in his 80s due to a knee injury. He passed away in 2009, but the local community still continue to take care of the park. Now it’s one of the most beloved flower landscapes in Eastern Hokkaido!

Information

• Admission fee: 600 yen
• Hours: 8 am – 6 pm, May to early June
• Access: By public transportation – 20 min by Yubetsu Mombetsu Line bus from Engaru Bus Terminal to Tulip Koen
  By car – 15 min from Engaru, 30 min from Mombetsu, 1h from Kitami, 1.5h from Memanbetsu Airport.
• Official website
• Google Map

2. Tulip Park in Kamiyubetsu (May)

I’ve never seen tulips in the Netherland, but as a Hokkaido local, I’d say the tulips here might be as beautiful?

In a small town of Kamiyubetsu, you’ll find 700,000 tulips in 200 varieties bloom every May, including rare varieties imported directly from the Netherlands. They strech over 7 hectares of open land.

You can also climb the Dutch windmill-style observation tower at the center of the park to take in the full view. Or hop on the electric bus that loops through the park in about 20 minutes.

The story behind this park goes back further than you might expect. Kamiyubetsu was settled by Tondenhei, soldier-farmers sent to Hokkaido in the Meiji era to cultivate the land and defend the frontier.

Each family received a small plot of land, but as farming practices modernized, those plots became too small to sustain a living.

In the 1950s, an agricultural advisor named Terunori Nishikawa, a son of a Tondenhei, proposed tulip bulb farming as a way to boost income from the limited land. Then tulip cultivation spread across the area.

But in 1966, a collapse in Dutch bulb prices made it unprofitable, and the fields went quiet.

But the tulips here didn’t disappear entirely. In 1975, the local senior citizens’ club was determined to keep the flowers alive, and planted a tiny 200-square-meter patch on what had once been the Tondenhei’s gathering and training ground.

People started to stop by, and what started as a small labor of love by a group of elders eventually grew into the beautiful park you see today!

Information

• Admission fee: 600 yen (adults), 300 yen (children), free for toddlers
• Hours: 8 am – 6 pm (last entry 5:30 pm), May 1 – May 31
• Access: By public transportation – 20 min by bus from JR Engaru Station, get off at Tulip Park-mae
  By car – 30 min from Okhotsk Monbetsu Airport
• Official website
• Google Map

3. Lily Park in Koshimizu (July – September)

Lily Park in Koshimizu is an amazing destination for flower lovers! Here, you’ll find 7 million lilies of 100 different species from all corners of the world. You can overlook the park from an observatory at the top of the hill.

And what’s even more fun? A soft-served ice cream using lily roots!

If this isn’t enough, you can also visit the lookout on Mt. Mokoto, or the nearby nature reserve Koshimizu Gensei Kaen nature reserve. Note that there is no public transport to the park, so make sure to rent a car to get there.

Information

• Admission fee: 600 yen
• 9 am – 5 pm, mid-July to August
• By public transportation – Not available
• By car – 30 min from Shari, Abashiri and Memanbetsu Airport
• Google Map

4. Hana Tento in Abashiri (July – October)

When summer arrives in Abashiri, a ski slope transforms into a beautiful flower park with tens of thousands of sage and marigold blooms.

I often come here whenever I take a weekend family trip from my hometown Kitami to Abashiri in summer. If you’re there, make sure to go to the observation dech on top of the hill. You’ll see a beautiful view of Lake Abashiri!

And I also love the birth story of this park.

In 2002, a group of local volunteers came together with a simple idea: turn the ski slope into a flower garden during the summer months, creating both a new attraction and a gathering place for residents.

They built it through an “adopt-a-plot” program, where local organizations sign up to plant and maintain their own section of the hillside each year. The city provides the seedlings and tools; the community does the rest.

Since then, the whole community, including local businesses and schools, has come together to keep the park colorful and welcoming every summer.

Information

• Admission fee: Free
• Hours: Anytime, July to October
• Access: By public transportation – 20 min by Kanko Shisetsu Meguri Line bus from Abashiri Bus Terminal or JR Abashiri station
  By car – 10 min Abashiri
• Google Map

5. Sunflower Field in Memanbetsu (August – September)

Whether you’re arriving or departing from Memanbetsu Airport, make sure to make a quick visit to this gorgeous sunflower field. It is located just next to the airport.

You will find 400,000 sunflowers stretching as far as you can see. The best time to visit is from August to September.

And here’s the best part – if you time it just right, you might catch a plane taking off or landing in the middle of all these sunflowers!

Many airplane-loving photographers from all over Japan come here to take their best shots. Just keep in mind, Memanbetsu isn’t a super busy airport, so you should check the flight schedule if you want to see the combo.

Information

• Admission fee: Free
• Hours: Anytime, August to early October
• Access: By public transportation – Not available. 20 min walk from Memanbetsu Airport
  By car – 5 min from Memanbetsu Airport
• Google Map

6. Cosmos Park in Engaru (August – October)

Fall comes early to Hokkaido, and we’ll feel it when 10 million cosmos are in full swing in Engaru. It’s the biggest cosmos field in all of Japan, covering a massive 10 hectares of land.

September is the perfect time to enjoy the bloom. The park has a souvenir shop, a rest area and public bathrooms.

Getting there might be a bit of a challenge, since there’s no public transportation. But you can take a quick 5-minute taxi ride from Engaru Station.

Information

• Admission fee: 600 yen
• Hours: 9 am – 5 pm, May to October (Cosmos season is between mid-August and late September.)
• Access: By public transportation – Not available
  By car – 5 min from JR Engaru Station, one hour from Kitami
• Google Map

7. Rokka Forest near Obihiro (Late April – Late October)

This one is different from every other park on this list. There are no flower-filled fields here, but you’ll walk through a forested path along a stream, and wildflowers blooming between the trees.

I visited in the summer of 2025 and it’s honestly my favorite garden in the Tokachi region!

Rokka Forest is run by Rokkatei, a famous Hokkaido sweets brand from Obihiro. The 6 flowers you’ll find here are the “Tokachi Rokka“, 6 wild plants native to the Tokachi region. If you’ve ever picked up a box of Rokkatei sweets, you’ve seen these flowers. They’re the ones on the iconic packaging.

The artist behind those famous designs was Naoyuki Sakamoto, a painter and a pioneer farmer in Tokachi. He loved the the mountains and alpine plants of Hokkaido and pained them throughout his life.

You can find several gallaries of his art works in this forest. Unfortunately they don’t have English descriptions, but the galleries take you through his life devoted to capturing the beauty of Hokkaido’s nature. (I hope you can use Google Translate and read them!)

They also have a cafe where you can have Rokkatei’s sweets. You can try their signature raisin butter cookie sandwich straight from the factory, super fresh.

Information

• Admission fee: 1,200 yen (adults), 800 yen (children)
• Hours: 10 am – 4 pm (9 am – 4 pm in June and July), late April to mid-October
• Access: By car – 30 min from Obihiro. By bus – 1 hour from JR Obihiro Station + 20 min walk
• Official website
• Google Map

Your next steps

Now you know the hidden gem flower parks that most tourists don’t know. Enjoy the beautiful scenery without crowds!

Looking for more things to do in Hokkaido in summer? Check out these local festivals.

If you like traveling off the beaten paths, you’ll enjoy the rural Eastern Hokkaido, full of wild nature. Or find hidden gems in the popular destination Furano, recommended by a local.

Traveling with kids? I have a list of fun things to do with little ones, and a 5-day family-friendly itinerary that’s easy to follow.

Happy trip planning!