Ono City Sunflower Hill Park is a spacious, multipurpose park covering approximately 80,000 square meters in Kiyotanicho, Ono City, Hyogo Prefecture. Known for its beautiful displays of seasonal flowers, the park offers a relaxing setting for families, nature lovers, and visitors looking to enjoy the changing scenery throughout the year.
Conveniently located beside National Route 175, Sunflower Hill Park is easy to reach by car. Its flower fields change with the seasons, creating a succession of colorful landscapes. In spring, visitors can admire Chinese milk vetch and rapeseed blossoms. Summer brings fields of sunflowers, the official flower of Ono City, while autumn is marked by vibrant cosmos flowers.
The park originally opened as a flower garden centered on sunflowers. In April 2002, it underwent a major redevelopment that expanded its facilities to include large playground equipment, European-style gardens, dining options, and commercial facilities. Today, it serves as a popular recreational destination for both local residents and tourists.
The park grows sunflower varieties such as Sunrich Lemon and Taiyo. Their main flowering season is generally from late June to early July, when the fields become a vivid sea of yellow. Visitors hoping to see the sunflowers should plan their trip early in the summer, as the flowers are often cut down before the height of the summer season.
In autumn, the cosmos variety known as Sensation adds another burst of color to the park. The flowers typically reach their best viewing period from early to mid-November, offering a beautiful seasonal display and a different atmosphere from the summer sunflower fields.
The park’s most recognizable landmark is the Sunflower Tower, a monumental structure made of granite. Standing 20 meters tall and weighing approximately 260 metric tons, the tower is clearly visible from National Route 175.
Designed by Masashi Hasegawa, an Ono-born artist and judge for the Nika Association, the tower was completed in 1991 as part of an initiative to promote the city and enhance its public image. Its design incorporates the shape and spirit of the sunflower, the city’s official flower. After dark, the tower is illuminated, giving the park a distinctive nighttime appearance.
Ono Bussankan Aust is a shop inside the park offering a wide selection of local products and specialty goods from Ono City. Items include woodcrafts, metal products, gardening supplies, handicrafts, and food products. It is a good place to discover regional craftsmanship and find souvenirs to take home.
The shop is generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is closed on Tuesdays and from December 31 through January 2.
The Park Center provides visitor information, including details about park facilities, events, and activities. It is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visitors can stop here to learn more about what’s happening during their visit.
Sun Patio Ono is a farmers’ market operated by JA Hyogo Mirai. It sells fresh locally produced vegetables, fruits, and other agricultural products, making it a convenient stop for visitors interested in seasonal produce and the flavors of the region.
The market is generally open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is closed on Wednesdays and during the New Year holiday period.
The Ono City Children’s Center, known as Chaicom, is a family-oriented facility that supports child-rearing and community activities. Its facilities include a playroom, a room for young children, a nursing room, a library, a meeting room, and a consultation room. It provides a comfortable place for local children and families to play, learn, and spend time together.
The park features an open European-style garden with gazebos and benches, where visitors can relax among seasonal plants and flowers. A separate area arranged in a Japanese-inspired style surrounds a pond, creating a pleasing contrast between different garden traditions. Together, these landscaped spaces offer peaceful places to stroll, take photographs, or simply enjoy the scenery.
Restaurant Soroban-tei serves meals in a relaxed setting, including dishes prepared with local ingredients. It is generally open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and closes during the New Year holiday period. Visitors can enjoy a meal here while taking a break from exploring the park.
Traveling by car is a convenient way to reach the park. From the Takino-Yashiro Interchange on the Chugoku Expressway, take National Route 175 south for approximately 8 kilometers. From the Miki-Ono Interchange on the Sanyo Expressway, follow National Route 175 north for approximately 7 kilometers.
Ono City Sunflower Hill Park is more than a flower garden. Its seasonal flower fields, striking granite tower, landscaped gardens, playground facilities, local-product shops, and dining options make it an appealing destination for visitors of all ages. Whether you visit to photograph the summer sunflowers, enjoy the autumn cosmos, browse regional specialties, or spend a leisurely day outdoors, the park offers a welcoming way to experience the natural beauty and local character of Ono City.