Himawari no Oka Park

Overview

Tucked along National Route 175 in Ono City, Hyogo Prefecture, Himawari no Oka Park — literally "Sunflower Hill Park" — is one of the most-visited flower destinations in the northern Harima region, drawing around 700,000 people each year. Spanning roughly 80,000 square meters of gently sloping terrain in Shiroyama-cho, the park reinvents itself completely from season to season, offering two entirely different floral spectacles within the same flower field. Summer belongs to the sunflowers. From around mid-July through August, an estimated 400,000 to 500,000 large-headed sunflowers — some with blooms reaching 30 centimeters across — carpet the hillside in vivid gold. The sight has often been described as a "flower carpet" stretched across the landscape, and on a clear morning before the crowds arrive, the contrast between the blue Hyogo sky and the sea of yellow is genuinely breathtaking. Toward the end of the blooming season, visitors sometimes have the opportunity to cut and take home sunflowers, a tradition that has made the park a beloved local fixture. Then, in autumn, the very same fields transform completely. Around 4 million cosmos flowers — in shades of red, white, and pink — spread across 2.8 hectares, peaking in beauty around October. Where the sunflowers stood in rigid golden rows, the cosmos sway softly in the autumn breeze, lending the park an altogether quieter, more contemplative mood that regulars say is just as rewarding as summer. Beyond the flower fields, the park features a granite landmark tower, a large free-entry playground with a multi-story "Sunflower Tower" climbing structure popular with families, and free parking for nearly 470 vehicles. Admission to the entire park is free, making it accessible to everyone from local families to photographers planning their shot.

Access

📍 Address: 1545-321 Joutani-cho, Ono, Hyogo

About 10 minutes by car from Miki-Ono IC (Sanyo Expressway) or 15 minutes from Takino-Yashiro IC (Chugoku Expressway). From Ono Station (Kobe Electric Railway), take the Ranran Bus — approx. 25 minutes. Free parking for ~469 cars; expect congestion during peak bloom.

Map

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