Shibazakura Hill, Hitsujiyama Park

photo by 岩浪陸 · CC BY 3.0

photo by 雷太 · CC BY 2.0

400,000 shibazakura plants of ten varieties cover 17,600 m², from mid-April to early May.

From the top of the hill, above Seibu-Chichibu Station, you can see the city of Chichibu with Mount Bukō behind it. In mid-April the lawn is covered with a carpet of shibazakura (芝桜, creeping phlox, which blooms as densely as a fabric) in white, pink and blue, 400,000 plants of ten varieties over 17,600 m². The park was one of those planned by Dr Honda Seiroku, who designed public parks all over Japan for about 35 years across the Meiji, Taishō and Shōwa periods. In spring about a thousand cherry trees also bloom.

The park is part of the Mount Bukō prefectural nature reserve. It includes a small museum (Yamato Art Museum) and an area with Corriedale sheep.

ℹ️ The park is a free public area all year round. During the shibazakura bloom (in 2026: 3 April – 6 May, 8:00–17:00) entry to the flowering hill alone is charged, 500¥ for adults aged 15 and over, free under 15; at the end of the period entry becomes free again. Access: about 20 minutes on foot from Seibu-Chichibu Station.

🚉 Yokoze · 16 min walk

Sources: city.chichibu.lg.jp

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