Not Just Cherry Blossoms! 6 "Flower Scenic" Spots You Want to Visit in Spring [2026 Latest Edition] Including Hotels You Absolutely Must Stay At
When spring arrives, you get that restless urge to go somewhere, don't you? 🌸
Cherry blossoms are great, but actually, there are many "flower scenic" spots in Japan in spring besides cherry blossoms. Nemophila, canola flowers, moss phlox, wisteria, tulips... the sight of colorful flowers spreading across the landscape is so moving that the moment you see it, you'll feel, "I'm so glad I came!"
This time, we will introduce 6 flower scenic spots you absolutely must visit in spring, along with recommended inns and hotels nearby. Let's plan a trip timed with the best viewing season and enjoy the ultimate spring getaway 🌼
① Shizuoka/Minami-Izu | The magical collaboration of canola flowers and early-blooming cherry blossoms! "Minami Cherry Blossom and Canola Flower Festival"
The spotlighted spot that proudly took 1st place in Jalan's "Spring-like Flower Scenic Ranking 2026" is the "Minami Cherry Blossom and Canola Flower Festival" in Minami-Izu Town, Shizuoka Prefecture. The sight of pink early-blooming cherry blossoms and yellow canola flowers blooming all at once along the approximately 4km riverbed of the Aono River from mid-February to early March is like a spring picture scroll 🌼
The scent of canola flowers and the sight of cherry blossom petals dancing in the wind is a beauty you won't forget once you've seen it. Another charm is that the early-blooming variety (a lineage close to Kawazu cherry blossoms), which is different from Somei Yoshino, creates a deeper shade of pink.
Best viewing period: Mid-February to early March
Recommended Hotel | Gensen Ichizu Minami-Izu (formerly Shimogamo Onsen Hana no Omotenashi Nanraku)
A luxurious hot spring inn nestled on the banks of the Aono River, where the "Minami Cherry Blossom and Canola Flower Festival," a famous flower spot in Minami-Izu, is held, is "Gensen Ichizu Minami-Izu".
This is a long-established inn formerly known as "Hana no Omotenashi Nanraku," and its greatest pride is the hot spring water drawn directly from its own source, which boasts the largest scale in the Izu region with a temperature of 70°C, without any added water. You can enjoy a total of 22 types of unique baths, including 10 private baths and 2 large public baths. The private baths with open-air tubs are designed for two people to soak in leisurely, making them perfect for couples or trips with a spouse.
For dinner, they serve the "Hana no Omotenashi Special Kaiseki" using ingredients from Minami-Izu that the head chef personally visits local farmers and markets to procure. The kaiseki, which makes abundant use of the bounty of the sea and mountains of Minami-Izu, such as spiny lobster and local fish sashimi, is simply exquisite 🍣 It is highly rated by guests for its "warmth that makes you feel like you've returned to your spiritual home," and it is an inn where the homey hospitality will melt your heart.
Recommended points: Touring 22 types of baths x special kaiseki using local ingredients, with an outstanding location within walking distance of the famous flower spot!
Access: About 20 minutes by free shuttle from JR Izukyu-Shimoda Station / About 100 minutes by car from Shin-Tomei Nagaizumi-Numazu IC
👉Check for vacancies on Rakuten Travel
② Saitama/Chichibu | A pink carpet right before your eyes! Hitsujiyama Park "Moss Phlox Hill"
With Mt. Buko in the background, "Hitsujiyama Park," where pink, white, and light purple moss phlox spread across the landscape, is a spring flower scenic spot that Saitama is proud of 🌺 From mid to late April, when the entire hill of about 17,600㎡ is covered in colorful moss phlox, it feels like you've wandered into a dream world.
It's a very popular spot with good access from the Kanto area, visited by many tourists every year, but we recommend visiting early in the morning to avoid the crowds and enjoy it at your leisure. The mountain range of Chichibu seen over the moss phlox is also incredibly beautiful, and you might end up taking too many photos 📸
Best viewing period: Mid-April to late April (Admission fee: 500 yen for high school students and older, free for junior high school students and younger)
Recommended Hotel | Yuyado Hitsujiyama-tei
The inn with the best possible location, built on the grounds of Hitsujiyama Park, which is famous for its Moss Phlox Hill, is "Yuyado Hitsujiyama-tei"! It is a relatively new hot spring inn that opened in the summer of 2022, and a major feature is its luxurious design where all rooms have open-air baths. It's an environment that travel lovers will adore, where you can walk to the Moss Phlox Hill as soon as you wake up in the morning 🌸
You can fully enjoy the moss phlox season while relaxing in your room. Since the hot spring is designed to be self-contained in the guest room with an open-air bath, another nice point is that you can spend private time together at your own pace.
The staff is attentive, and with many repeat guests, it has a reputation as "an inn I want to come back to when I want to relax." The location within the park, allowing for a quiet stay surrounded by the sounds of nature, is a unique charm you won't find anywhere else.
Recommended points: The world's best location within the grounds of Hitsujiyama Park! Every room has an open-air bath, and the special feeling during the moss phlox season is superb ✨
Access: Approx. 8-minute walk from Seibu-Chichibu Station / Approx. 40 minutes via National Route 140 from Hanazono IC on the Kan-Etsu Expressway
👉Check availability on Rakuten Travel
③ Ibaraki, Hitachinaka | A miraculous scenic spot where the sky and earth are dyed blue! Hitachi Seaside Park "Nemophila"
The Nemophila at Hitachi Seaside Park offers such a fantastical sight that you'll find yourself saying, "Is this really Japan?"Approximately 5.3 million blue-purple Nemophila flowers covering the Miharashi Hill is truly a masterpiece, making it a spring scenic spot that becomes a huge topic on social media every year 🩵
The way the blue of the sky melts into the blue of the Nemophila, creating a moving experience as if the world of blue continues to the horizon, is something that never fades no matter how many times you visit. The "Flowering" event is scheduled to be held in 2026 as well, with spring flowers like tulips and daffodils blooming one after another like a relay. The best time to see them is around Golden Week, but if you want to avoid crowds, early weekday mornings are recommended.
Estimated best time to see: Mid-April to early May
Recommended hotel | Tsuruya Hotel (Ibaraki Prefecture)
Located in a prime spot just about a 5-minute drive from the Hitachi Seaside Park IC! "Tsuruya Hotel," with its luxurious location where every room has an ocean view overlooking the Pacific Ocean, is an inn loved by many travelers as a base for Nemophila sightseeing 🌊
Situated right next to the Ajigaura coast, you can fully enjoy the "two blues" in spring: the blue of the Pacific Ocean visible from your room's window and the blue of the Nemophila at Hitachi Seaside Park... it's the ultimate location.
For meals, you can enjoy seafood dishes rich in local flavor centered on fresh local live fish, with plenty of seasonal seafood caught at Nakaminato Fishing Port 🐟 There are many reviews saying, "I stayed here after seeing the Nemophila!" and it is also reputed as an inn where you can be healed by the friendly service of the staff.
The nearby Nakaminato Fish Market is also within walking distance, so it is recommended to buy fresh seafood as a souvenir.
Recommended points: All rooms have an ocean view x approx. 5-minute drive to Hitachi Seaside Park! The fresh live fish dishes are also exquisite 🐡
Access: Approx. 5-minute walk from Ajigaura Station on the Hitachinaka Seaside Railway Minato Line / Approx. 5-minute drive from Hitachi Seaside Park IC on the Hitachi-Naka Toll Road
👉Check availability on Rakuten Travel
④ Tochigi, Ashikaga | A world-recognized wisteria scenic spot! Ashikaga Flower Park
"Ashikaga Flower Park," which has been selected as one of the "Dream Destinations of the World" by CNN. There are four large wisteria trees over 160 years old, and the sight of the light purple large wisteria hanging down from the trellis is truly breathtakingly beautiful 💜
The experience of walking through a tunnel of wisteria flowers feels like wandering into a dream world while still in Japan. From late April to mid-May, a wide variety of wisteria such as white wisteria, yellow wisteria, and double-flowered black dragon reach their peak one after another, allowing you to enjoy various expressions of wisteria in a single visit. The night illumination is also fantastical, allowing you to enjoy a mysterious atmosphere different from the daytime 🌃
Estimated best time to see: Late April to mid-May
Recommended Hotel | Hotel Route-Inn Ashikaga Ekimae
Located just 6 minutes away from Ashikaga Flower Park via the JR Ryomo Line, "Hotel Route-Inn Ashikaga Ekimae" boasts an excellent location. It is just a 1-minute walk from the JR Ashikaga Station North Exit, making it the ultimate base hotel for those visiting by train 🚃
The complimentary breakfast service is extensive, and it's wonderful to be able to have a hearty breakfast before heading out to view the wisteria. A large public bath is also available, so you can slowly relax your body after a day of flower viewing. While it is a business hotel, its comfortable facilities and cleanliness make it perfect for solo travelers and couples alike. Because it is simple, it is easy to use and is a hotel you will want to stay at again and again. Parking is also provided for free, so accessing it by car is no problem at all!
Recommended Point: Just 6 minutes by train to the Flower Park! Great value with free breakfast & a large public bath ✨
Access: Approx. 1-minute walk from JR Ryomo Line Ashikaga Station North Exit / Approx. 15-minute drive from Kita-Kanto Expressway Ota-Kiryu IC
👉 Check availability on Rakuten Travel
⑤ Nagano/Iiyama | The Northern Alps and a Yellow Carpet! Nanohana Park
Famous as a filming location for the NHK serial TV drama "Ohisama," "Nanohana Park" (Iiyama City, Nagano Prefecture) is a popular spot that also ranked 4th place in the Jalan Flower Scenery Ranking 2026.
The contrast between the field of rapeseed flowers spreading along the banks of the Chikuma River and the snow-capped Northern Alps is so beautiful that no matter how many times you press the shutter, it never feels like enough 📸
During the peak of the rapeseed flowers' vibrant yellow color from early to mid-May, the "Iiyama Nanohana Festival" is held, featuring plenty of events where you can enjoy local produce and regional gourmet food. The sight of the rapeseed flowers reflecting in the "Phantom Pond" created by melting snow is a special, breathtaking view that can only be seen during a limited time.
Best time to visit: Early May to mid-May
Recommended Hotel | Hotel Hoteiya
Located in a prime spot just a 10-minute walk from JR Hokuriku Shinkansen Iiyama Station, "Hotel Hoteiya" is a long-established hotel boasting the best facilities in Iiyama City. Nanohana Park is also close to the station, so you can walk to the flower fields 🌼
As a hotel rooted in the local community that also features a convention hall and banquet rooms, it is a warm hotel that has been loved by local people for many years. The cuisine, which makes use of the rich ingredients of Shinshu, is also extensive, allowing you to fully enjoy local flavors such as seasonal nozawana, wild vegetables, and Shinshu salmon 🍽
Nozawa Onsen is also nearby (about 25 minutes by bus), so it is highly recommended to plan a hot spring trip in combination with your rapeseed flower sightseeing. A spring trip spent relaxing in the clear air unique to Shinshu is sure to reset all your daily fatigue.
Recommended Point: 10-minute walk from Iiyama Station with great access to Nanohana Park! Cuisine using Shinshu ingredients and warm hospitality from a long-established hotel 🏔
Access: Approx. 10-minute walk from JR Hokuriku Shinkansen Iiyama Station / Approx. 12-minute drive from Joshin-etsu Expressway Toyota-Iiyama IC
👉 Check availability on Rakuten Travel
🌸 ⑥ Nagasaki/Huis Ten Bosch | Dutch Windmills x Tulips! A Dreamy Flower Resort
Huis Ten Bosch, where the spring flower festival is grandly held as "Flower Celebration 2026," is a special place perfect for concluding your spring flower trip 🌷
From the "Flower Road" lined with colorful tulips to the tulips adorning the gardens of Palace Huis Ten Bosch, and even a special variety with fringed petals named "Huis Ten Bosch," there are picturesque floral landscapes everywhere you look.
The "Huis Ten Bosch" variety, improved over many years by Dutch breeders, features a beautiful gradient from pale pink to white and is a special flower that can only be seen here. The nighttime tulip illumination is also magical, allowing you to enjoy a different side of the scenery than during the day 🌙 With plenty of attractions, gourmet food, and shows, the biggest appeal is being able to enjoy a spring flower trip and a resort experience all at once.
Best time to visit: Early March to late April
Recommended Hotel | Hotel Nikko Huis Ten Bosch
When it comes to staying within Huis Ten Bosch, "Hotel Nikko Huis Ten Bosch" is definitely an option you can't miss 🏨
Located just a 10-minute walk from JR Huis Ten Bosch Station, this is a comfortable hotel situated within a resort surrounded by flowers and greenery. Its appeal lies in its well-equipped facilities that cater to a wide range of travel styles, from families with children to adult couples, and it is also popular as a "kid-friendly family hotel surrounded by flowers and greenery."
Staying at Huis Ten Bosch offers the huge benefit of the Early Park-In privilege! You can have the spectacular view of tulips and windmills all to yourself before the crowds arrive during the day. The dining options, which use rich ingredients from Nagasaki, are also excellent, and you will be satisfied in both body and soul with meals that make the most of seasonal Kyushu ingredients 🍽
Recommended Point: Enjoy the spectacular flower views before the crowds with the Early Park-In privilege! A well-equipped resort that the whole family can enjoy 🌷
Access: About 100 minutes by the Limited Express Huis Ten Bosch train from JR Hakata Station, and about a 10-minute walk from JR Huis Ten Bosch Station
👉Check availability on Rakuten Travel
🌺 Summary | Tips for enjoying your spring flower trip even more
Did you want to visit all 6 of the spectacular flower spots introduced this time? Here are some tips to help you make the most of your spring flower spots 🌷
Check the best time to visit in advance! The best time to see flowers varies from year to year depending on the weather. It is a golden rule to check the latest blooming information on each spot's official social media or website before visiting. Calling the location in advance is also recommended.
Weekdays & early mornings are the best time to go! Especially during the Nemophila and Wisteria seasons around Golden Week, heavy crowds are expected. If possible, visit on a weekday or aim for the early morning right after the park opens to avoid the crowds and enjoy your time at a leisurely pace.
Have an even more special experience by staying the night before! By staying at the hotels introduced this time, you can head to the flower spots first thing in the morning. The time spent facing the flowers in the silence before the crowds arrive is truly exceptional ✨
Book your accommodation early! Travel demand rises sharply during the spring flower season. In particular, "Yuyado Yozantei" near Hitsujiyama Park for moss phlox and the hotels at Huis Ten Bosch often fill up early, so booking as soon as your plans are set is a must.
I believe that the spectacular spring flower scenery in Japan has a special beauty that you won't find anywhere else in the world, no matter how much you travel. This year, I hope you will feel the diverse charm of spring flowers, not just cherry blossoms, with your whole body 🌸 Wishing you a wonderful spring trip!