Hitachi Seaside Park — Blue Nemophila Hills

Hitachi Seaside Park transforms twice a year into one of Japan's most photographed landscapes. In late April through mid-May, 5.3 million baby blue eyes flowers (nemophila) blanket the rolling Miharashi Hill in a cyan sea that merges seamlessly with the sky. In October, the same hill ignites in crimson when 32,000 kochia shrubs turn from green to deep red, creating a landscape that resembles Mars.

The 350-hectare park was built on the site of a former Imperial Japanese Army ammunition depot and US military base. The nemophila bloom period draws 80,000 visitors per day on peak weekends — a pilgrimage for both domestic and international photographers. The kochia autumn season is equally dramatic but less crowded. Beyond the seasonal spectacles, the park features permanent flower gardens, cycling paths through pine groves, an amusement park, and coastal sand dunes preserved as a natural habitat. The contrast between the meticulously cultivated flower fields and the wild Pacific coastline defines the park's character.