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Cosmos Flowers: Top 10 Places to Enjoy Them in Japan
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Cosmos flowers are one of the highlights of early autumn in Japan. We feature some of the best places to enjoy these graceful pink blooms in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and other regions.
Written by
Travel writer and assistant editor at MATCHA with extensive travel around the Osaka, Kyoto, and Wakayama areas. A Kansai insider who knows their Akashiyaki from their Takoyaki, Iain enjoys getting authentic stories from traditional craftspeople and interesting creators. Particularly fond of temples and shrines, Iain delves deep into the crossroads of tradition and modernity in his eight-plus years living and writing about Japan.
Hillsides covered in pink, white, and yellow flowers swaying in the crisp autumn breeze... This scenery is iconic for early autumn in Japan when the fields and gardens are filled with cosmos flowers. Due to their graceful appearance, they are also called akizakura ("the cherry blossoms of autumn").
Read on to learn 10 of the best places to see cosmos flowers in Japan, from Tokyo and Osaka to Fukuoka and other regions.
Visiting Japan? Book the JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)
Living in Japan? Book Shinkansen (bullet train) tickets
Top 10 Cosmos Flower Spots in Japan
1. Showa Kinen Park in Tokyo
2. Hama-rikyu Gardens in Tokyo
3. Akebonoyama Agricultural Park in Chiba
4. Expo '70 Commemorative Park in Osaka
5. Yume Cosmos Garden near Kyoto
6. Hannyaji Temple in Nara
7. Awaji Hanasajiki Park
8. Nokonoshima Island Park in Fukuoka
9. Shirakimine Plateau in Nagasaki
10. Kirin Beer Park Cosmos Festival in Fukuoka
1. Showa Kinen Park in Tokyo
Photo by Pixta
Showa Kinen Park, located in Tachikawa, a city in the western part of Tokyo, is a botanical garden known for its spectacular natural scenery throughout the year.
In autumn, the park holds a cosmos flower festival from September until November. Over a million cosmos blooms grace the hills inside the park. With many other flowering plants and even a ginkgo tree alley that looks like a golden corridor in autumn, there is so much natural beauty in this park!
Hotels near Showa Memorial Park
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2. Hama-rikyu Gardens in Tokyo
Photo by Pixta
Just picture it: the sight of thousands of pastel pink and white blossoms spread out against a backdrop of soaring skyscrapers in Tokyo.
This scenery is what makes the Hama-rikyu Gardens well worth the visit in autumn. for viewing cosmos flowers. The yellow-orange varieties bloom from late August until early September while the pink and white cosmos can be enjoyed from late September until mid-October.
Hotels near Hamarikyu Gardens
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3. Akebonoyama Agricultural Park in Chiba
Photo by Pixta
The Akebonoyama Agricultural Park is located in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, and can be easily accessed from Tokyo by train or car.
Three soccer-field-sized garden beds are filled with cosmos blooms in a variety of colors. The blossoming peak is in October; we suggest checking the garden's website and social media channels for the latest updates regarding the blooms.
If you visit in autumn, why not try out the cosmos-themed craft workshops as well? From beautiful stamps to making your own autumn-themed tote bag, there is so much to do at the park! If you want to take part in the workshops, make sure to book a seat in advance for the day of your visit.
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4. Expo '70 Commemorative Park in Osaka
Photo by Pixta
Osaka's Expo Memorial Park is another great place to see the cosmos blooming in autumn.
Built to commemorate the Japan World Exposition of 1970 held in Osaka, this park is home to beautifully maintained Japanese gardens filled with all kinds of flowering plants. From tulips in the spring to the beautiful purple and white cosmos blooms in early autumn, this park is a haven of natural beauty for visitors to Osaka.
Be sure to take in the unique art of the Tower of the Sun designed by famous Japanese artist Taro Okamoto.
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5. Yume Cosmos Garden in Kameoka, Kyoto
Photo by Pixta
Only temporarily open during the autumn season, Kyoto's Yume Cosmos Park comes alive with over 8 million cosmos blooms spreading as far as the eye can see.
There are a number of early blooming varieties as well as unique varieties that can only be enjoyed at this park. The cosmos flowers bloom here starting from September and tend to stick around into November giving visitors a longer time to enjoy their beauty.
Yume Cosmos Park is considered one of the most family-friendly parks in Kansai and this extends even to four-legged friends. A beautiful dog run is on the grounds allowing visitors to enjoy the flowers together with their dogs.
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6. Hannyaji Temple in Nara
Photo by Pixta
A famous flower temple in Nara, Hannyaji is famous for its beautiful hydrangea flowers during early summer and for cosmos flowers in autumn. The latter reach their blooming peak in early October.
Hannyaji Temple happens to be one of the oldest places for visitors to enjoy cosmos flowers and is also known as "cosmos-dera," the cosmos temple. As a souvenir from your visit, you can buy lovely cosmos-shaped amulets at this temple.
Hotels near Hannyaji Temple
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7. Awaji Hanasajiki Park
Photo by Pixta
Enjoy the beauty of a hillside covered in flowering cosmos as you look out to stunning panoramic views of Osaka Bay and Kansai International Airport! The Awaji Hanasajiki Botanical Garden covers over 15 hectares and is a magnet for lovers of flowering plants all year round. Thanks to this gorgeous park, Awaji Island is often referred to as the "island of flowers."
The main flower beds can be found in the Garden of Heaven and the Garden of Joy. You'll find yourself looking with a sense of wonder at the splendid flowers in this botanical garden. Be sure to check out the observation deck where you can look down on the blanket of cosmos as it stretches out to the horizon and beyond towards Osaka Bay!
Hotels near Awaji Hanasajiki Park
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8. Nokonoshima Island Park in Fukuoka
Photo by Pixta
Journey to an island filled with cosmos flowers! The island of Nokonoshima can be reached in only 10 minutes by ferry from Fukuoka City/ Over 800,000 cosmos flowers bloom here during the autumn months.
The garden was originally a sweet potato farm and the owners decided to plant flowers that could bloom between the harvests of sweet potato. In time, the park grew into a place where visitors could come to relax and rejuvenate.
The cosmos fields on Nokonoshima are divided into early-blooming and late-blooming varieties, with around 500,000 early-blooming cosmos and 300,000 blooming in October. The view of the cosmos flowers swaying gently in the sea breeze is breathtaking! Be sure to enjoy the giant swing that is suspended from a large tree in the park; it also serves as a great photo spot.
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9. Shirakimine Plateau in Nagasaki
Photo by Pixta
From high atop a sloping hillside in Isahaya, Nagasaki Prefecture, visitors are treated to one of the most beautiful cosmos viewing spots in all of Kyushu.
With over 20,000 individual blooms, the hillside comes to life every autumn in spectacular fashion. It is a popular spot for photographers because of a natural phenomenon where a blanket of white clouds rolls over the top of the cosmos flowers to create an amazing sea of clouds!
The park is home to two very rare varieties of cosmos: the vivid red variety "Red Versailles" and the "Seashell" variety, which has petals resembling seashells.
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10. Kirin Beer Park Cosmos Festival in Fukuoka
What could be better than capping off a day tasting delicious beer while enjoying a stroll in a cosmos garden? You can enjoy this unique flower-viewing experience at the Kirin Beer Factory in Fukuoka. The facility holds the Kirin Beer Park Cosmos Festival in autumn.
The beer factory sits next to a large field of cosmos flowers. In total, around 10 million cosmos flowers bloom in October. The flowers can be enjoyed either before or after taking a factory tour and tasting delicious beer.
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Enjoy Autumn Flowers in Japan!
Whether you're taking a day trip from Tokyo or Osaka or admiring them further afield in Kyushu, cosmos flowers are a must-see for nature lovers visiting Japan.
Cosmos flowers make spectacular backdrops for photos and also look stunning in close-ups. Before relishing the fiery reds of maple trees in late autumn, take some time to enjoy these graceful autumn blooms!
Visiting Japan? Book the JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)
Living in Japan? Book Shinkansen (bullet train) tickets
Main image by Pixta
Travel writer and assistant editor at MATCHA with extensive travel around the Osaka, Kyoto, and Wakayama areas. A Kansai insider who knows their Akashiyaki from their Takoyaki, Iain enjoys getting authentic stories from traditional craftspeople and interesting creators. Particularly fond of temples and shrines, Iain delves deep into the crossroads of tradition and modernity in his eight-plus years living and writing about Japan.
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