Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture
Hitachi Seaside Park A bite of dried sweet potato on the blue hill
A hill of nemophila that seems to reach all the way to the sky. Come along on my spring walk along the park paths, where I stopped for a rest beside the flowers.
A springtime walk among blue nemophila on Miharashi Hill. I kept looking up at the flowers and down at the little blooms nearby until even my pace slowed.
SpringMid-April to early May
A bite of dried sweet potato, one more look at the flowers
At the end of the path, a whole hill of nemophila came into view. “Oh!” I blurted out. I hadn’t expected the flowers to spread so far. I’d meant to take a photo for my driving friend, but I just stood there staring for a while without even taking out my phone.
As I walked along the path, I could see flowers both near and far. Each blossom was tiny, but the whole hillside in bloom was such a beautiful sight. I followed the flowers with my eyes up to the sky until I found myself looking up, too.
I stopped for a moment and took a bite of the dried sweet potato I’d brought. Flowers to admire and something sweet to snack on—two of my favorite things at once. I’d meant to keep walking, but I wanted to stay there a little longer.
With another bite in my hand, I looked at the path winding along the hill. What would the flowers look like from there? I hadn’t even finished my sweet potato, and I was already curious about the view farther ahead. I wanted to take it slow, but there was so much more I wanted to see.
I finally took out my phone and snapped photos of the hill. I couldn’t decide whether to frame the flowers up close or include the sky, so I kept both. I meant to choose one to send my friend, but I kept finding another photo I wanted to share.
I tucked away the dried sweet potato and started walking along the path again. When I came close to the flowers I’d just been admiring, even the shape of the tiny petals caught my eye. When I get home, I want to tell my friend what it was like to wander slowly through the flowers—not just show her the photos.
The story sections are fiction inspired by this location. For accurate information, please consult official tourism and information websites.
Local specialty
Dried sweet potatoes from Hitachinaka
Dried sweet potatoes are a specialty of Hitachinaka City. I nibbled some on the spring hillside, taking in the nemophila as I went.
Highlights
Nemophila along the park paths
The viewing season for nemophila runs from mid-April to early May. As I followed the paths at Miharashi Hill, I couldn’t stop looking—from the nearby blossoms all the way to the view at the top of the hill.
The little flower called Rurikarakusa
Nemophila’s Japanese name is rurikarakusa. It’s an annual plant native to North America. Once I learned its name, I wanted to look closely at the little petals after taking in the whole hill.
Park access
From Hitachi Seaside Park to Miharashi Hill
- Park address
- 605-4 Ōnuma, Mawatari, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture
- Destination in the park
- Miharashi Hill
Once you arrive at the park, follow the paths to Miharashi Hill. As I walked among the flowers, I gradually realized just how large the hill was.
For driving directions and car park information, see the park’s official access page below. Once I arrived, the first thing I wanted to do was take a leisurely walk around Miharashi Hill.
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