Higashimatsuyama: Peony Garden at Musashikyuryo Forest Park

Flowers blooming on wooded hills, seasonal flower fields, and a day spent freely in vast greenery: Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park, straddling Namegawa Town in Hiki District and Kumagaya City in Saitama Prefecture, was the first national government park opened in Japan. Across a vast site of about 304 hectares (roughly 56 Tokyo Domes), flower fields, athletic areas, and cycling courses spread out, making it popular with families. Beginning with gorgeous spring flowers, seasonal blooms welcome visitors.

Japan's First National Government Park

Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park opened as Japan's first national government park, as part of the Meiji Centennial memorial project. Making use of hilly woodland retaining the character of the old Musashino plain, it is cherished year-round by many as a space to play all day while connecting with nature. The grounds are very large, with various themed areas such as the Urban Greening Botanical Garden area, the sports field, and the mountain-stream plaza.

Flowers That Color Spring

Spring in the park is packed with flower highlights. In the Urban Greening Botanical Garden area, colorful peonies and other flowers bloom, their showy large blossoms announcing the arrival of spring. In spring, about 700,000 Iceland poppies dye the flower field at the sports plaza, and a blue carpet of nemophila spreads across the flower field near the West Entrance. Tulips and lupines also come into bloom, so you can enjoy a flower tour around the park to your heart's content. The best viewing differs by flower, but roughly April to May is the peak season.

Seasonal Flowers and Recreation

The park's charm is that some flower can be enjoyed year-round. From early-summer hydrangeas and summer sunflowers to autumn coleus and foliage and winter illuminations, the highlights shift with the seasons. In addition, facilities where children and adults alike can play actively are plentiful, including a giant air trampoline, athletic courses, cycling courses on rental bikes, and barbecue areas.

Access and Basic Information

• Location: Yamada, Namegawa Town, Hiki District, Saitama Prefecture
• Transportation: about a 7-minute bus ride from Shinrin-koen Station on the Tobu Tojo Line, or about 10 minutes by car from the Higashi-Matsuyama IC on the Kanetsu Expressway
• Opening hours: 9:30 to 17:00 from March to October, 9:30 to 16:30 in November, 9:30 to 16:00 from December to February
• Admission: 450 yen for adults (high school age and up), 210 yen for seniors (65 and over), free for junior high students and younger
• There are closed days (such as year-end and New Year and part of January); check official information before visiting

Practical Travel Notes

Because it is simply vast, deciding on your target flower field or area in advance lets you tour efficiently. The park has several gates (South, Central, West, and North), and the trick is to enter from the gate nearest your target flower. There are also ups and downs within the park, so easy-to-walk shoes and comfortable clothing are more pleasant. Covering everything on foot is hard work, so making use of rental bikes or the in-park bus is recommended. Since flower peaks shift by year and weather, checking the flowering information on the official site before setting out is surest. Bringing a bento and picnicking on the lawn is also a pleasant way to spend the day.

A Word of Advice

For families and those who want to play actively, a day combining the flower fields and athletics is especially recommended. Those who want to admire flowers at leisure should aim for weekdays rather than crowded weekends, or the morning right after opening. In this vast park overflowing with greenery, spend a relaxed day enjoying both seasonal flowers and recreation.

📚 Sources

This article is based on guidance for the National Musashi Kyuryo Forest Park (Japan's first national park), information on seasonal flowers such as peonies in the urban greening botanical garden area, and tourism information for Namegawa Town and Kumagaya City in Hiki. It also draws on guidance for Iceland poppies, nemophila, rental bicycles and the park bus. Opening hours, admission and flower viewing periods may change, so please confirm with official sources before you go.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: It is vast, so deciding on your target flower fields or areas in advance is efficient.
• How to get around: There are several gates (south, central, west, north); enter from the one nearest your target flowers, and use rental bicycles or the park bus if walking is hard.
• Access: About 7 minutes by bus from Shinrin-koen Station (Tobu Tojo Line), or about 10 minutes by car from the Higashimatsuyama IC.
• Opening check: 9:30 to 17:00 (Mar to Oct), 9:30 to 16:30 (Nov) and 9:30 to 16:00 (Dec to Feb), with some closed days.
• What to bring: Comfortable shoes and easy-moving clothing, as the park has slopes.
• Bloom check: Flower peaks shift by year and weather, so check the official bloom updates before you go.