Spring is just around the corner, and cherry blossoms are often the first thing that pops into our minds when we talk about spring in Japan. As the season approaches, many cherry blossom-themed products are released to celebrate. Today, we’ll introduce a breathtaking sightseeing spot covered with beautiful pink flowers that is absolutely worth a visit in 2026!
Hitsujiyama Park: a pink paradise
Hitsujiyama Park is a botanical park in Chichibu, Saitama, famous for its gorgeous pink moss phlox flowers. Covered in these blooms, the park looks like a pink paradise set against blue skies, lofty mountains, and lush greenery.
These pink flowers are called Moss Phlox in English and Shibazakura ($\text{芝桜}$) in Japanese. Shibazakura literally translates to “lawn cherry blossoms” because the flowers stretch out like a lawn, and their heart-shaped petals look similar to cherry blossoms.
Around 400,000 phlox of nine different varieties bloom across a surface of 17,600㎡. The petals of the phlox flowers can be pink, white, and lilac, which create a wonderful flower carpet in spring.
Moss phlox starts blooming from mid-April and comes into full bloom from late April to the beginning of May. It is the perfect spot for those who miss the early April cherry blossoms! (Blooming season can vary slightly depending on weather changes).
2026 Shibazakura Festival
The annual Shibazakura Festival is held during the peak blooming season. In 2026, the festival is expected to run from mid-April to May 10.
Next to the phlox hill, a Chichibu Specialties Market is held. You can find various local souvenirs and foods. Our recommendation is miso-potato—a must-try Chichibu specialty featuring deep-fried potatoes with a sweet miso glaze!
Cherry Blossoms Too! Hitsujiyama Park is also home to 1,000 cherry trees, including Somei Yoshino, weeping cherry trees (shidarezakura), and double-flowered yaezakura. If you arrive a little too early for the moss phlox, you can likely still enjoy these beautiful trees.
How to get to Hitsujiyama Park
Hitsujiyama Park is about a 15-minute walk from Seibu Chichibu Station. Though Chichibu Station sounds a little too far from Tokyo, it won’t take too much time to reach the park if you take the Seibu Railway.
There are two train lines that allow you to reach Seibu Chichibu Station directly from Ikebukuro Station. The Red Arrow Limited Express and Laview Train (launched on March 16, 2019) allow you to reach Seibu Chichibu Station in 78 minutes. You need to purchase the limited express ticket in addition to the basic fare ticket, because these trains are all-reserved-seat trains.
After arriving at Seibu Chichibu Station, don’t forget to stop by Matsurinoyu, which is located right next by the station!
Relax at Matsuri no Yu
Just like its name, “Matsurinoyu” is a hot spring facility (onsen). It is very rare for a train station to have a hot spring facility nearby, but here you can relax yourself after exploring the city for the whole day. You can rent a towel and loungewear here, and you don’t have to bring any bath amenities. We strongly recommend visiting this facility to refresh your body before returning to Tokyo.
In addition to the hot spring facility, there is also a food court area and souvenir shops inside Seibu Chichibu Station. You can try the local flavors of Chichibu by trying the Waraji Katsu at one of these restaurants.
From Chichibu mochi to Potekumakun-themed sweets, you can find various kinds of souvenirs to purchase here (Potekumakun is a mascot character of Chichibu city).
Use the Seibu Railway to visit Chichibu without haste and spend a memorable day in Chichibu this spring!
SEIBU 1Day Pass, a special discount pass for foreign tourists
SEIBU 1Day Pass is a special discount pass that can be used on all Seibu lines except for Tamagawa line. The pass is valid for 24 hours after the date of purchase and you can get this pass for 1,000 yen only. If you want to explore Chichibu and Nagatoro area, you can get the SEIBU 1Day Pass + Nagatoro, which only costs 1,500 yen.
You can purchase this pass at the limited express ticketing machines at Seibu Ikebukuro Station or Seibu Shinjuku Station and at the SEIBU Tourist Information Center Ikebukuro. Please visit the official website of SEIBU 1Day Pass for more details.
Hitsujiyama Park
Address: 6350 Omiya, Chichibu-shi, Saitama, Japan
Business hours: 08:00 – 17:00
Entrance fee: adults 300 yen (tax included) / free of charge for 15 years old and younger
Access: 15-minute walk from Seibu Chichibu Station *Traffic congestion is expected during the Shibazakura Festival, so please use public transportation when visiting this park.
2026 Festival Period: Expected April 17 – May 10, 2026
A Spring Day Trip Must-Do
Hitsujiyama Park offers a stunning pink landscape that you won’t find in central Tokyo. Between the “Laview” train ride, the moss phlox hills, and a relaxing soak at Matsuri no Yu, it is the perfect way to spend a spring day in 2026!
