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Kochia Hill is a flower field located in Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It is the highest elevation in the park and the entire city of Hitachinaka, providing an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of kochia and cosmos.
Hitachi Seaside Park is situated 120 km northeast of Tokyo, facing the Kashima Sea in Mawatari, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki.
The distance from Tokyo to Hitachi Seaside Park is 138.3 km. It takes 1 hour and 15 minutes by railway to reach Katsuta station.
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Amazing Scenery Of Kochia Hills In Miharashi Area
Hitachi Seaside Park has approximately 2,000,000㎡ of flower fields containing seasonal flowers that bloom every year. There are around 32,000 kochia in the Miharashi Area, and they bloom in October.
During Autumn, kochia and cosmos plants bloom, creating the greatest scenery at Hitachi Seaside Park.
Famous for its flowery fields and hills that stretch from the Pacific Ocean, the beautiful scenery resembles walking on a red carpet of blooming flowers.
The Beauty of Kochia and Cosmos
Kochia belongs to the Amaranthaceae family. As annual plants, they complete their life cycle from germination to wilting in one year. Additionally, Kochia seeds are edible. Their shape, color, and texture are similar to caviar, earning them the nickname ‘Caviar of the Farm.’
Moreover, Akita Prefecture is renowned as one of the major producers of Kochia and Kochia seeds in Japan. These plants are typically planted every summer, from late June to early July. Initially, their size is limited to 15 cm, and they appear green.
In Autumn, specifically during September, Kochia experiences significant growth, reaching a height of 80 cm and beginning to turn red. Despite the impressive gradation of colors, this transformation is temporary.
The blooming and fluffy red Kochia can be observed from early to mid-October. However, by the end of October, the Kochia undergoes another transformation, turning golden yellow, and eventually being cut in November.
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The Suffering City From World War II Becomes The Largest Garden
In 1938, the Imperial Japanese military built the Mito Higashi Airfield, which was used until Japan’s defeat in World War II.
For 27 years, the military facility experienced several conflicts with the surrounding residents due to bombs falling in the residential area.
In 1973, the land was used as an American military base but was later returned to the Japanese government.
This place symbolizes military power and war. However, the residents of Ibaraki wanted this place to be transformed into a different symbol – a place that symbolizes peace and freedom.
In 1979 – 1990, the idea to build the park was created. One significant part of this procedure was the removal of unexploded bombs underground.
Although not finished, Hitachi Seaside Park was opened to the public in 1991 with 6 areas, the most iconic of which is Kochia Hill.