Kiso Sansen Park Center: A Landmark Facility in Japan’s Largest National Government Park, Spanning Three Prefectures

Japan’s largest park, the Kiso Sansen National Government Park, encompasses 13 distinct parks. Among them, the Kiso Sansen Park Center is a place where visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers throughout the year. In particular, during the season when tulips and grape hyacinths bloom, their mass plantings create a spectacular landscape that has become a popular highlight. Admission is free, and numerous events are held on weekends, making it an easy and inviting park to visit.

Plantings That Showcase the Expansive Landscape

Kiso Sansen National Government Park is Japan’s largest national park, spanning three prefectures—Aichi, Gifu, and Mie. Making full use of the vast lowland area surrounding the Kiso, Nagara, and Ibi Rivers, the park was developed as a recreational space for people in the Tokai region. Because it encompasses 13 individual parks, it’s far too large to explore in a single day. In this article, however, we will focus on the Kiso Sansen Park Center, a spot where visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers all year round.

The Kiso Sansen Park Center is divided into the South Zone and the North Zone. The seasonal flowerbeds that color the grounds are mainly found in the North Zone. Including a visit to the 65-meter Observation Tower (admission required) located at its center, the area can be explored in roughly 60 minutes at an adult’s pace.

The blooming highlights shift with the seasons—spring tulips, cherry blossoms, and nemophila; summer golden cosmos and sunflowers; autumn cosmos; and winter pansies, violas, and ice tulips—so visitors can enjoy flower viewing at any time of year. Weekend events are held throughout the year as well, and on some days you’ll find markets or handmade craft fairs, making it fun to shop while enjoying the flowers.

A Park Where Flowers Bloom All Year Roundfrom Spring to Winter

In the western area of the North Zone’s Grand Flower Bed at the Kiso Sansen Park Center, visitors can enjoy the beautiful view of a cherry blossom avenue formed by about 50 trees in early April. The cherry trees, planted when the park opened around 30 years ago, have each grown large and developed impressive shapes with their fully spread branches and foliage. Bringing food and drinks into the park grounds is permitted, so enjoying a bento box lunch or snacks under the blue sky is a great way to truly feel the arrival of spring.

※Please note that bringing food and drinks into the buildings is not permitted.

From early to mid-April, the Grand Flower Bed in the North Zone reaches its peak season with approximately 215,000 tulips and 105,000 grape hyacinths (muscari) planted across an area of 3,800 m²(about 41,000 ft²).

The breathtaking design, inspired by the “flowing currents of the Kiso Three Rivers,” is truly a sight to behold. 

Since the plantings change colors annually, many returning visitors look forward to this season, eagerly capturing the vibrant scenery with their cameras.

In the North Zone of the Kiso Sansen Park Center, about 200 hydrangea plants create a picturesque scene in June. A variety of types can be enjoyed, including Japanese hydrangeas, Western hydrangeas, and the increasingly popular ‘Annabelle.’ It’s fun to compare the different varieties while imagining which ones might work well in your own home garden. There is also a spot where you can take nostalgic-feeling photos with a traditional Japanese farmhouse in the background.

In August, the sunflowers planted in the “Flower Art Bed” and the “Pathside Flower Beds” in the North Zone reach their peak.

Around 37,000 sunflowers from five varieties — including ‘Matisse’, ‘Gogh’, and ‘Monet’ — come into bloom. 

In the “Flower Art Bed”, their impressive height is used to create a sunflower maze, allowing visitors to walk right into the sunflower field and enjoy exploring from within.

In the Grand Flower Bed of the North Zone at the Kiso Sansen Park Center, cosmos flowers reach their peak from late September to mid-October. Around 300,000 cosmos of various varieties — including ‘Double Click’ and ‘Happy Ring’— bloom all at once, swaying in the breeze and creating a vibrant, colorful landscape.

Every year from mid-September to early November, an event titled “Autumn Flower Story” is held, featuring weekend activities such as markets, handmade craft fairs, and jazz concerts. Throughout the park, you’ll also find photo-worthy spots decorated with vibrant autumn flowers—perfect for capturing memorable pictures!

Enjoy a 360° Panorama from the Observation Tower
Winter Nights Glow with Illuminations

Inside the Kiso Sansen Park Center, you’ll find the “Hall of Water and Horticulture & Observation Tower”, which can be entered for 630 yen for adults and 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students (group and disability discounts available).
Take the elevator up to the 56m (184 ft)-high observation room—the tower itself stands 65m (213 ft) tall, and you’ll be treated to a sweeping 360° view of the Kiso Three Rivers—the Kiso, Nagara, and Ibi rivers—spread out below.

The facility also features permanent exhibits introducing the region’s flood-control history, local geography, and the plants, animals, and fish that can be found in the area. In addition, craft workshops such as preserved flower arrangements, kaleidoscope making, and 3D card crafts are offered.

Note: The “Hall of Water and Horticulture & Observation Tower” will be closed from April 1, 2026, to November 25, 2027 (planned) due to reconstruction of the facility.

At the Kiso Sansen Park Center, a winter illumination event titled “Winter Light Story” is held from late November through December 31. The lights are on from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Each year the theme changes, and the grounds are vividly illuminated with 500,000 lights. During the illumination period, various events such as concerts, fireworks displays, and Christmas markets take place, making it a wonderful time to enjoy an evening stroll.

Information

Kiso Sansen Park Center  
 
Address: 255-3 Aburajima, Kaizu-cho, Kaizu-shi, Gifu / Japan
 
Call: +81-(0) 584-54-5531
 
Official Website:
https://www.kisosansenkoen.jp/e/
 
Access:
From Ishizu Station on the Yoro Railway, take the Kaizu City Community Bus to “Kiso Sansen Park” (stops directly at the park).
Please note: No bus service is available at night.
 
OPEN SEASON: Year-round
 
Closed Days:
• January, February, and June: Closed every Monday
• March, April, May, July, September, October, November, December: Closed on the second Monday of each month
• August: Closed on the fourth Monday
• If a closure day falls on a national holiday, the park will be closed on the following weekday instead.
• New Year’s holidays (December 31 and January 1)
 
Opening Hours:
・9:30–17:00 (March–June, September–November)
・9:30–18:00 (July–August)
・9:30–16:30 (December–February)
Hours may vary depending on events.
 
Admission: Free
(“Hall of Water and Horticulture & Observation Tower”: Adults 630 yen, Elementary/Junior High Students 300 yen)
 
Parking:
1,231 spaces (free)
 
For further information, click below:
https://www.kisosansenkoen.jp/e/kiso_sansen_park_center/index.html