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Iwappara Cosmos Park

Flower fields and views for days in Uonuma

One of the best things about Japan has to be that there's something to enjoy no matter the season - and in particular, there always seems to be something in bloom year round. Whilst the cherry blossoms of spring may be the most revered, there are a host of other beauties to appreciate whenever you're visiting, one of which are the cosmos flowers of the autumn months.

In the Niigata area, one of the best places to check out fields upon fields of cosmos flowers is the aptly named Iwappara Cosmos Park. The park is a well-kept secret, and each time I've visited I've only seen a few other people - if any! It makes for a perfect place to appreciate the beauty of nature without battling the crowds.

Even outside the cosmos season, the park is a great place to get some spectacular views over the Uonuma region. Since it's set up high on a hill, you almost feel on top of the world looking out over the surrounding area. If you visit in the summer months, you're likely to see the fields in the town below filled with koshihikari rice, some of the best quality stuff grown in Japan.

Admission to the Iwappara Cosmos Park is free of charge. Bear in mind that due to the significant snowfall the region receives during the colder months, the park is closed during winter.

Getting there

To reach the Iwappara Cosmos Park from Tokyo, take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Echigo Yuzawa Station (approximately 75 minutes). From there, change to the local Joetsu Line and get off at Koide Station.

From Koide Station, take the bus service bound for Oshirakawa and get off at the Namiyanagi stop. The park is approximately 30 minutes away on foot.

Alternatively, if you'd prefer to self-drive, there is plenty of free parking available at the site.

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Elena Lisina 5 years ago
Wonderful landscape!!!
Elena Lisina 5 years ago
In what month cosmos bloom? I visited Japan in the end of Ocotber and saw cosmos near Ushiku Daibutsu.
Elizabeth S 5 years ago
Cosmos flowers are a real delight! They're feathery, almost velvety, both the foliage and the flowers. When's the best time to see them there in Uwappara? Here in northern Chiba Prefecture, they are at their best from late September to early December.
Kim Author 5 years ago
September and October here! Sometimes by November there's already snow on the ground here, and December is blanketed! It's probably why I love the cosmos flowers even more - a bit of autumn's last hurrah if you will!

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