Aside from Spring, Japan is also a great destination every Autumn. Luckily, I had the chance to come back again in the early autumn season of Japan (October) and immediately took the opportunity to go to Hitachi Seaside Park’s surreal Kochia fields.

Hitachi Seaside Park is one of the largest parks in Japan famous for its seasonal flowers. It’s mostly well known because of its enchanting Nemophilia fields every Spring, nonetheless, its Kochia fields offer a unique experience every Autumn.

Upon entering the park, a large fountain and vast space will welcome you. As an avid traveler, I highly advise you to just rent a cute bike (with basket and bell) for only 400 yen (3 hours)- that is if you know how to bike. Couples who want to have a cheesy date moment can opt to rent the couple bike too! I can’t promise that touring the park using a bike will be easy, but at least you will be able to feel the cold autumn breeze while cycling around. There are some uphill areas too so prepare your knees and Gastrocnemius muscle with the torture.

On your way to the park’s highlight (Kochia and Cosmos field), you will see some scenic flower areas as well. Personally, I don’t know the names of the flowers, but let the colors speak to you instead. One of my favorite pictures is the Pampas Grass beside the Ferris Wheel, with my two friends! Creative shot! Just imagine how I was able to take this good photo while balancing on my bicycle!

The saying “Stop and Smell the Flowers” is literally true in Hitachi Seaside Park. Once you see the flowers, you just can’t hold the urge to stop, take a photo, and smell the fresh flowers. (Just be careful with the bees).

Finally, after about 20 minutes of being lost, our navigator/friend, Cayao, figured out how to go to the glorious Kochia field. On our way, we also met another Filipina and together, we went to see the “Lorax”. Few minutes of downhill cycling, chatting, ringing (the bell), parking, and walking passed…. and behold the sight to remember for a lifetime!

We are so lucky that we were able to be in this place during the peak season! All of the Kochia bush are color red already and its also lined up with thousands of Cosmos flowers! Of course, we immediately took lots of photos followed by selfies and groupies!

While roaming around the fields, all of us just keep on saying “Wow!”, “Ang ganda!” (It’s so beautiful), repeatedly. It is definitely the best landscape I’ve seen in my lifetime so far.

Here are our jumpshots:

The landscape is also arranged on a hill, zigzag like path so it creates a wonderful panorama for your photos. My favorite spot is on top where you can see the Kochia, Cosmos, Skyline, and Ferris Wheel in a single frame.

We spent nearly 4-5 hours roaming around the park, then at around 4pm, we had a very late lunch.  For travelers who plan to visit in the future, it is better if you just bring your own bento box/snacks as the stalls inside are quite expensive and not yummy (plus the lines are very long). We left the part at exactly 5-ish PM and were among the last ones who returned the bike.

Hitachi Seaside Park- I shall return! (for Nemophilia, and Kochia all over again, with my loved ones!)

Before we end, I’ll share with you the directions and expenses so you can include it in your next budget travel!

How to go:

• From JR Ueno station, take the train to Katsuta via JR Joban Line (Travel time is around 2.5 hrs). Outside Katsuta, you will immediately see the Ibaraki Kotsu bus stop bound for Hitachi Seaside Park. It will stop right in front of the park.

When to visit:

• Peak season of Kochia is 3rd-4th week of October. This depends on the temperature. When we visited, it’s October 24, and the Kochia are in peak colors already.

Costs:

• Normal way: Cheapest roundtrip ticket from Ueno-Katsuta via local train is around 4500 yen roundtrip, and roundtrip bus ticket is 800 yen. Total expenses from Ueno to Hitachi Seaside Park is 5300 yen.
• The Madaldal Kid recommended way: If you are a tourist, it’s better to purchase JR Kanto Area Pass worth 8300 yen. You can buy this from the Narita or Kansai Airport. It offers 3 days unlimited travels via JR Line in Kanto area. You can visit other famous destinations like Fuji Five Lakes, Karuizawa, Nikko, Yokohama, Chiba, Gunma, Izu, etc, thus you can definitely make a value of it! This will soon be replaced by Tokyo Metro Pass by December 18,2015 (same coverage plus additional Snow mountain destinations).

Read more about my Budget Travel Osaka Adventure:

1. Part 1- Japan Travel like a Ninja for only 12,000 pesos – Personal Tips and Notes 
2. Part 2- Day 1-Japan Travel Like a Ninja for only 12,000 pesos – Arashiyama Bamboo Groves, Tenryu-Ji Temple, and Umeda Sky Building
3. Part 3- Day 2-Japan Travel Like a Ninja for only 12,000 pesos – Osaka castle, Tenma, Pokemon Center Osaka, Dotonbori
4. Part 4- Day 3-Japan Travel Like a Ninja for only 12,000 pesos – Kyoto, Kinkakuji Temple, Botanical Garden, Osaka Castle, Denden Town
5. Part 5- Day 4-Japan Travel Like a Ninja for only 12,000 pesos -Namba, Dotonbori, Ichiran,Shinsaibashi
6. Part 6-Japan Travel Like a Ninja for only 12,000 pesos-Itinerary and Budget
7. Japan Travel in a Budget:Osaka-Nikko-Kyoto-Tokyo Autumn Highlights
8. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Universal Studios Japan Experience
9. How to Apply for Japan Tourist Visa

Tokyo/Kanto Budget Travel posts:

1. Hitachi Seaside Park – Japan’s Best Autumn Spot
2. Chureito Pagoda, Shimo-yoshida- Great View of Mt. Fuji

Going to Japan soon but don’t know where to start? Try to avail of my customized budget itinerary to learn and be able to tour Japan alone! Just click here.

Aside from Spring, Japan is also a great destination every Autumn. Luckily, I had the chance to come back again in the early autumn season of Japan (October) and immediately took the opportunity to go to Hitachi Seaside Park’s surreal Kochia fields.

Hitachi Seaside Park is one of the largest parks in Japan famous for its seasonal flowers. It’s mostly well known because of its enchanting Nemophilia fields every Spring, nonetheless, its Kochia fields offer a unique experience every Autumn.

Upon entering the park, a large fountain and vast space will welcome you. As an avid traveler, I highly advise you to just rent a cute bike (with basket and bell) for only 400 yen (3 hours)- that is if you know how to bike. Couples who want to have a cheesy date moment can opt to rent the couple bike too! I can’t promise that touring the park using a bike will be easy, but at least you will be able to feel the cold autumn breeze while cycling around. There are some uphill areas too so prepare your knees and Gastrocnemius muscle with the torture.

On your way to the park’s highlight (Kochia and Cosmos field), you will see some scenic flower areas as well. Personally, I don’t know the names of the flowers, but let the colors speak to you instead. One of my favorite pictures is the Pampas Grass beside the Ferris Wheel, with my two friends! Creative shot! Just imagine how I was able to take this good photo while balancing on my bicycle!

The saying “Stop and Smell the Flowers” is literally true in Hitachi Seaside Park. Once you see the flowers, you just can’t hold the urge to stop, take a photo, and smell the fresh flowers. (Just be careful with the bees).

Finally, after about 20 minutes of being lost, our navigator/friend, Cayao, figured out how to go to the glorious Kochia field. On our way, we also met another Filipina and together, we went to see the “Lorax”. Few minutes of downhill cycling, chatting, ringing (the bell), parking, and walking passed…. and behold the sight to remember for a lifetime!

We are so lucky that we were able to be in this place during the peak season! All of the Kochia bush are color red already and its also lined up with thousands of Cosmos flowers! Of course, we immediately took lots of photos followed by selfies and groupies!

While roaming around the fields, all of us just keep on saying “Wow!”, “Ang ganda!” (It’s so beautiful), repeatedly. It is definitely the best landscape I’ve seen in my lifetime so far.

Here are our jumpshots:

The landscape is also arranged on a hill, zigzag like path so it creates a wonderful panorama for your photos. My favorite spot is on top where you can see the Kochia, Cosmos, Skyline, and Ferris Wheel in a single frame.

We spent nearly 4-5 hours roaming around the park, then at around 4pm, we had a very late lunch.  For travelers who plan to visit in the future, it is better if you just bring your own bento box/snacks as the stalls inside are quite expensive and not yummy (plus the lines are very long). We left the part at exactly 5-ish PM and were among the last ones who returned the bike.

Hitachi Seaside Park- I shall return! (for Nemophilia, and Kochia all over again, with my loved ones!)

Before we end, I’ll share with you the directions and expenses so you can include it in your next budget travel!

How to go:

• From JR Ueno station, take the train to Katsuta via JR Joban Line (Travel time is around 2.5 hrs). Outside Katsuta, you will immediately see the Ibaraki Kotsu bus stop bound for Hitachi Seaside Park. It will stop right in front of the park.

When to visit:

• Peak season of Kochia is 3rd-4th week of October. This depends on the temperature. When we visited, it’s October 24, and the Kochia are in peak colors already.

Costs:

• Normal way: Cheapest roundtrip ticket from Ueno-Katsuta via local train is around 4500 yen roundtrip, and roundtrip bus ticket is 800 yen. Total expenses from Ueno to Hitachi Seaside Park is 5300 yen.
• The Madaldal Kid recommended way: If you are a tourist, it’s better to purchase JR Kanto Area Pass worth 8300 yen. You can buy this from the Narita or Kansai Airport. It offers 3 days unlimited travels via JR Line in Kanto area. You can visit other famous destinations like Fuji Five Lakes, Karuizawa, Nikko, Yokohama, Chiba, Gunma, Izu, etc, thus you can definitely make a value of it! This will soon be replaced by Tokyo Metro Pass by December 18,2015 (same coverage plus additional Snow mountain destinations).

Read more about my Budget Travel Osaka Adventure:

1. Part 1- Japan Travel like a Ninja for only 12,000 pesos – Personal Tips and Notes 
2. Part 2- Day 1-Japan Travel Like a Ninja for only 12,000 pesos – Arashiyama Bamboo Groves, Tenryu-Ji Temple, and Umeda Sky Building
3. Part 3- Day 2-Japan Travel Like a Ninja for only 12,000 pesos – Osaka castle, Tenma, Pokemon Center Osaka, Dotonbori
4. Part 4- Day 3-Japan Travel Like a Ninja for only 12,000 pesos – Kyoto, Kinkakuji Temple, Botanical Garden, Osaka Castle, Denden Town
5. Part 5- Day 4-Japan Travel Like a Ninja for only 12,000 pesos -Namba, Dotonbori, Ichiran,Shinsaibashi
6. Part 6-Japan Travel Like a Ninja for only 12,000 pesos-Itinerary and Budget
7. Japan Travel in a Budget:Osaka-Nikko-Kyoto-Tokyo Autumn Highlights
8. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Universal Studios Japan Experience
9. How to Apply for Japan Tourist Visa

Tokyo/Kanto Budget Travel posts:

1. Hitachi Seaside Park – Japan’s Best Autumn Spot
2. Chureito Pagoda, Shimo-yoshida- Great View of Mt. Fuji

Going to Japan soon but don’t know where to start? Try to avail of my customized budget itinerary to learn and be able to tour Japan alone! Just click here.