Hyogo Prefectural Awaji Hanasajiki Park is a scenic flower park in Kusumoto, Awaji City, on the northern part of Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture. Set across rolling hills, the park offers sweeping views of Osaka Bay, with colorful flower fields stretching toward the sea.
Originally opened as Awaji Hanasajiki in 1998, the park was renamed Hyogo Prefectural Park Awaji Hanasajiki and reopened following renovations in March 2020. It is a popular destination for enjoying seasonal flowers and panoramic coastal scenery in a peaceful natural setting.
The park opened on April 4, 1998, and occupies approximately 15 hectares of highland terrain at elevations ranging from 235 to 298 meters. Its area is roughly four times the size of Koshien Stadium, one of Japan’s best-known baseball stadiums.
Located near the top of the hills in northern Awaji Island, Hanasajiki combines expansive flower fields with uninterrupted views of Osaka Bay. The park has developed into one of the island’s best-known destinations for seasonal blooms and landscape photography.
April 4, 1998: The park opened to the public.
March 2015: The park hosted events associated with Awaji Flower Expo 2015, a celebration of flowers and greenery.
March 2020: The park reopened following renovations, with improved visitor facilities and viewing areas.
Hanasajiki Terrace Hall was developed as part of the park’s renovation to improve visitor services. The two-story reinforced-concrete building has a total floor area of approximately 1,151 square meters.
The first floor contains a shop selling local specialty products, restrooms, and the park office. A restaurant occupies the second floor, offering visitors a place to relax and enjoy the surroundings.
The rooftop features an observation area overlooking Osaka Bay. It is connected by an elevated walkway to a separate observation deck, allowing visitors to appreciate the expansive scenery from different viewpoints.
The observation deck is approximately 30 meters wide and features two levels, with the upper and lower platforms standing around 10 meters above ground level. From here, visitors can take in sweeping views of Osaka Bay and the surrounding landscape.
Part of the original observation deck was destroyed in a fire on May 9, 2014. The facility was subsequently rebuilt as part of the park’s renovation and reopening in March 2020. Today, an elevated walkway connects the deck to Hanasajiki Terrace Hall, creating an easy route between the viewing areas.
Approximately 2.5 million flowers are planted across the park each year, creating a changing landscape with every season. The combination of colorful flower fields, green hills, and the blue waters of Osaka Bay makes Hanasajiki a particularly attractive destination for nature lovers and photographers.
Spring is one of the park’s most celebrated seasons, thanks to its expansive fields of yellow rape blossoms, known in Japanese as nanohana. Early-flowering varieties begin blooming in mid-December, and successive varieties extend the flowering season into spring, allowing visitors to enjoy broad stretches of yellow flowers across the hills.
In summer, the park bursts into color with flowers such as cleome, sunflowers, verbena, and blue salvia. Their vivid shades contrast beautifully with the surrounding greenery and the distant sea, creating a lively landscape under the summer sky.
Autumn brings fields of cosmos, whose delicate pink, white, and other colorful blooms sway in the breeze. The flowers and panoramic sea views create a picturesque setting for a leisurely walk or photography.
Depending on the season, visitors may also encounter poppies, stock, and snapdragons. The variety of plantings means that the scenery changes throughout the year, making repeat visits rewarding.
Events are held to coincide with the best flowering periods. Spring celebrations may include a Nanohana Festival dedicated to rape blossoms, while summer events feature poppies and other seasonal flowers. In autumn, a Cosmos Festival celebrates the park’s colorful cosmos fields.
Event names, dates, and programs may vary from year to year, so visitors planning their trip around a particular festival should check the latest announcements before traveling.
From the Kosoku Maiko bus stop, located near JR Maiko Station and Sanyo Electric Railway Maiko-koen Station, take a highway bus to Higashiura Bus Terminal. From there, a taxi takes approximately 10 minutes to reach the park.
Local sightseeing buses operated by Awaji City also provide access from Iwaya Port and the Awaji Interchange. Take the northern sightseeing route and get off at the Awaji Hanasajiki bus stop, which is close to the park entrance. Check current bus schedules before setting out, as services and timetables may change.
From Kobe and the northern part of Awaji Island, continue straight at the Awaji Interchange intersection and follow Prefectural Route 157 south for approximately 7 kilometers, or about 12 minutes.
From the southern direction, the park is approximately 4 kilometers, or about 10 minutes, from Higashiura Interchange.
Admission: Free.
Parking: Parking fees apply. Standard passenger cars cost ¥200 per visit, while large vehicles cost ¥1,600 per visit.
Opening hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m.
Regular closing period: December 29 through January 3.
Visitors should confirm current opening hours, parking charges, and seasonal arrangements before their visit, particularly during major flower events.
Hyogo Prefectural Awaji Hanasajiki Park is a wonderful place to experience the natural beauty of Awaji Island. Its vast flower fields, elevated viewpoints, and sweeping views of Osaka Bay create a memorable landscape that changes with the seasons.
Whether you visit for the brilliant yellow rape blossoms of spring, the colorful flowers of summer, or the cosmos of autumn, the park offers a relaxing escape into nature. With free admission and convenient facilities, it is an appealing stop for travelers exploring northern Awaji Island.