Gardens & Shops

Heidi’s Village―A Beloved Theme Park and Flower Paradise

Heidi’s Village: A Storybook World of Exotic CharmAdorned with Flowers Heidi’s Village, which opened in 2006 after being renovated from its predecessor, the Yamanashi Prefectural Flower Center, is a tourist spot where visitors can enjoy the world of Heidi, Girl of the Alps. The anime, first broadcast in 1974, remains a beloved classic even in the 21st century. Heidi's Village is also beloved as a famous flower spot. Areas such as “Panorama Flower Bed,” “Angel’s Garden,” “Shade Garden,” and “Farmer’s Potager” each showcase different garden styles. Spanning about 10 hectares, a full tour takes roughly two to three hours. Spring begins with crocuses, tulips, and violas, followed by wisteria, roses, and lavender in early summer. Summer brings hydrangeas and sunflowers, while autumn features cosmos, red spider lilies, and autumn roses. Throughout the year, flowers of every season reach their peak.The rose season is especially unmissable, featuring Japan’s longest rose walkway. Produced by rose expert Midori Goto, the 230-meter-long(755 ft) rose tunnel is truly spectacular—You'll want to walk through it again and again. This hugely popular tourist spot welcomes approximately 220,000 visitors annually, featuring a wide array of restaurants, cafés and souvenir shops. Highlights include the “Alm Mountain Hut,” which makes you feel as if you’ve stepped right into Heidi’s story, and “Peter’s Goat Hut,” where you can interact with goats. A wide variety of hands-on events are also available. Come visit this leisure spot where you can keep coming back for fun! A Flower-Filled Theme Park Where Heidi might run around barefoot At Heidi’s Village, vibrant tulips burst into full bloom from mid-April to early May. About 250,000 bulbs from six different varieties open all at once, creating a stunning display that blends beautifully with the Swiss-style buildings, giving an atmosphere rich in exotic charm. The contrast of reds and yellows is especially striking. Around the same time, you can also enjoy violas, cherry blossoms, and rapeseed flowers throughout the park. In May, be sure to head out to see the German irises. Around 40,000 plants representing some 180 varieties are cultivated here. Taking advantage of the iris’s wide range of colors, the flowers are interplanted in mixed hues, creating sweeping clusters with a wild-garden feel. Around the same time, wisteria and poppies are also at their peak. From late May to late June, Heidi’s Village enters its rose season. Approximately 7,000 roses of about 1,200 varieties are planted here. Under the supervision of rose specialist Midori Goto, the rose garden is designed to highlight the character and age of each plant. Its centerpiece is Japan’s longest rose walkway—a 230-meter(755 ft) corridor of blooms. As you stroll beneath this fragrant shower of roses, you'll find yourself looking forward to discovering what view awaits around the next curve. Rose workshops led by Midori Goto are held regularly, so be sure to check the official website for details. In July, the lavender reaches its peak. Strolling through the fields, now awash in shades of purple, you’ll be enveloped in a soothing fragrance carried on the breeze. Lavender picking experiences are available every year from July 1st to 30th. The participation fee is 500 yen (tax included; admission fee separate). In mid-August, approximately 5,000 sunflowers will be in full bloom. Located 750 meters(2,460 ft) above sea level, Akeno Town in Hokuto City boasts the longest hours of sunshine in Japan, while the cool summer breezes at this altitude create the perfect conditions for sunflowers to flourish. Heidi’s Village also takes part in the famous “Hokuto City Akeno Sunflower Festival”, and the “Sunflower Festival” is held in August. Visitors could enjoy a variety of summer-themed events such as projection mapping, alphorn playing experiences, and a stamp rally. Be sure to join in the fun! Enjoy Halloween and Illuminations!Daily Hands-On Activities, No Reservation Needed At Heidi’s Village, Halloween and Harvest Festival is held from September 1 to October 31. The courtyard is decorated with large ornamental pumpkins and charming dolls, creating a festive atmosphere. During this period, a Halloween costume contest also takes place—why not join in and shout “Trick or Treat!” together? Various events will also be held, including Halloween gel candle making, jack-o'-lantern carving, and a miniature garden contest. In December, the park extends its opening hours until 9:00 p.m. for a special illumination event. The photo shows a dynamic display created with about 400,000 LED lights.  Since the theme and design change every year, many visitors come back each year to see the new display. During this period, a wide variety of events take place, including projection mapping, a Christmas wreath contest, stargazing, and hands-on workshops such as making Christmas gel candles. At Heidi’s Village, you can enjoy daily hands-on workshops such as creating herbariums, moist potpourri(semi-dried potpourri), botanical garlands, and bottle flowers using dried flowers. These activities are especially popular with women and families with children!  The herbarium shown on the left costs 2,100 yen, and the moist potpourri on the right is 500 yen (both tax included; admission fee not included). Workshops are available from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the “Swiss Flower Shop.” Be sure to stop by Rottenmeier’s Café, a takeout-style spot. Popular items include Heidi’s White Bread Raclette Burger and the Kikyo Shingen Soft Plus. Pictured are the adorable “Goat’s Milk Ice Cream” served in a Heidi cup and the fluffy “White Bread,” a must-have from the Heidi anime story in Japan. There’s a terrace right in front, making it a perfect place to take a break. Information A Theme Park of Flowers and HappinessHeidi’s Village Address: 2471 Akeno-cho Asao, Hokuto City, Yamanashi/Japan Call: +81-(0)551-25-4700 Official Website: https://www.haiji-no-mura.com Access:・About 30 minutes by Chigatake–Mizugaki Rural Bus from JR Chūō Line Nirasaki Station・About 20 minutes by taxi from JR Chūō Line Nirasaki Station・About 15 minutes by car from Nirasaki I.C. on the Chūō Expressway・About 10 minutes by car from Sudama I.C. on the Chūō Expressway Closed Days:・January 1・Tuesdays from January through the end of March (open if Tuesday falls on a public holiday) Opening Hours:・9:00–18:00 (April–July, August–November)・9:00–21:00 (December)・9:00–17:00 (January–March) Admission:【Apr-Oct】High school students and older: 710 yen (570 yen for groups of 20 or more)Junior high and elementary school students: 360 yen (280 yen for groups of 20 or more)【Mar,Nov-Dec】High school students and older: 260 yen (200 yen for groups of 20 or more)Junior high and elementary school students: 130 yen (110 yen for groups of 20 or more)【Jan 2-Mar 10】FREE ◆For Guests with Dogs◆In accordance with the “Heidi’s Village Dog Admission Rules,” please sign the “Consent Form for Dog Admission” and purchase an etiquette set (300 yen) for each dog. Parking: 200 spaces (free)

Yamanashi Fuefukigawa Fruit Park―Featuring 50 Fruit Varieties!

Living Fruit Display Offers a Fun Food Education Experience for Kids Opened in 1995, Yamanashi Fuefukigawa Fruit Park (hereafter “Fruit Park”) in Yamanashi Prefecture boasts an expansive area of 320,000 square meters(79ac). Sprawling across a hilly landscape, the park takes about two hours to explore on foot at a relaxed pace. As its name suggests, the park mainly features fruit trees. Developed as a relaxing retreat for the residents of Yamanashi, Fruit Park showcases not only the prefecture’s signature fruits—such as peaches and grapes—but also more unusual varieties like almonds, hardy kiwis, and even mangoes. The"Orchard" area features an impressive collection of around 190 varieties and approximately 6,000 fruit trees, making it truly a "living fruit museum."  It’s a great place to visit with children, where you can observe the shape of each tree, see the kinds of flowers they bloom, and enjoy learning together. In addition, there are two large flower beds in the “Entrance Square” and “Flower Square,” where colorful seasonal blooms are planted throughout the year. These beds are designed to take advantage of the sloped terrain, creating a visually striking display. A team of professional staff handles the planting design, and the beds are replanted twice a year, offering visitors a fresh and changing floral landscape. The types of flowers vary from year to year, but in general, spring features favorites like tulips, pansies, and daffodils, while autumn sees a vibrant transition to salvia, zinnias, and marigolds. At Fruit Park, the focus is on the exhibition of fruit trees, so fruit picking is not offered. However, the park does host special events such as fruit harvesting experiences, grape juice-making using a traditional press, and fruit tasting sessions. It’s a good idea to check the official website before your visit to see what’s available. In addition to the events, the park features well-equipped cafés, as well as playgrounds and attractions that children will enjoy. Stunning Sloped Flower Beds Make a Bold Impression!A Variety of Events Held in the Orchard Area This photo was taken in early May at the Flower Plaza in Fruit Park. Pansies and tulips are in full, vibrant bloom. Due to the slope, the view is impressive whether you look up from below or down from above. Located at an elevation of 510 meters (1,673 ft), the area experiences significant temperature differences between day and night, which enhances the vivid coloration of the flowers. At the Flower Plaza, the flower beds are replanted twice a year, offering fresh beauty with every season. At Fruit Park, you'll find not only peaches and grapes but also around 50 different types of fruit trees. The park boasts a collection of 190 varieties, with approximately 6,000 individual trees on display. Among them are rare and unusual fruits such as almonds, pomegranates, and even mangoes. While fruits are familiar sights at greengrocers and supermarkets, most people rarely get the chance to see how they actually grow and bear fruit. That’s why the park offers a “living exhibition” of fruit trees, which also serves as a valuable food education experience for children. While the fruit trees planted in the park are mainly for display, harvest experience events are also held. For example, during the cherry harvest event, participants can enjoy a guided tour of the cherry orchards followed by 30 to 60 minutes of hands-on harvesting. Other fruits featured in these experiences include plums, watermelons, passion fruits, persimmons, and chestnuts. Please note that these events are subject to availability depending on the condition of the fruit trees. Popular as One of “Japan’s New Three Major Night View”Take a Ride on the Road Train for a Relaxing Tour of the Hills From Fruit Park, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the Kofu Basin and the Southern Alps. On clear days, you may even catch a glimpse of Mt. Fuji! The stunning night view, with the Kofu Basin sparkling like scattered jewels, has been selected as one of “Japan’s New Three Major Night Views”. While the park’s indoor facilities close at night, the park itself is open 24 hours a day, year-round, making it easy to stop by for a relaxing nightscape visit. One of the best viewing spots is from the Fountain Plaza, located just above the Flower Plaza. Due to the park’s sloped terrain, a road train operates throughout the grounds. Styled like a mini steam locomotive, it’s especially popular with children!  The train runs from Parking Lot 1 to the Fruit Center at the top, stopping at six stations along the way. The ride takes about 30 minutes one way at a relaxed pace, and includes guided commentary from the driver. Fares are ¥400 for adults and ¥200 for children one way. Children under 3 and individuals with disabilities (with disability ID) can ride for free. A day pass is also available for ¥600 (adults) and ¥300 (children). Inside the park, you’ll find cafés, restaurants, and a shop offering a variety of products—including seasonal fresh fruits, homemade jams, processed goods, specialties from Yamanashi, and even locally produced Yamanashi wines. Take your time and enjoy the rich offerings of Yamanashi, the Fruit Kingdom. Information Yamanashi Fuefukigawa Fruit Park Address: 1488 Ezohara, Yamanashi City, Yamanashi/Japan Call: +81-(0)553-23-4101 Email: info@fuefukigawa.co.jp Official Website: https://fuefukigawafp.co.jp/english/ Access:About 90 minutes by limited express from Shinjuku Station on the JR Chuo Main Line, then 7 minutes by taxi or 7 minutes by Yamanashi municipal bus.About 30 minutes by car from Chuo Expressway Ichinomiya, Misaka I.C. or Katsunuma I.C.About 90 minutes by car on Route 140 from Chichibu City.About 150 minutes by car from Kan-etsu Expressway Hanazono I.C.About 30 minutes by car from Kofu.  For further information, click to view brochure:https://fuefukigawafp.co.jp/wp/wp-content/themes/fruitpark2023/assets/img/english/english_pamphlet.pdf

The Fragrant Rose Garden at Echigo Hillside National Government Park – A sacred place for ros…

Enjoy the Fragrance of Roses at “The Fragrant Rose Garden at Echigo Hillside National Government Park” The Fragrant Rose Garden at Echigo Hillside Park is a rose garden with approximately 2,400 roses of 800 varieties planted on a 16,000 m2(approx.4ac.) site. As its name suggests, the theme of the planting is “the fragrance of roses.” Rose fragrances are mainly classified as “Damask Modern,” “Damask Classic,” “Tea,” “Fruity,” “Spicy,” “Blue,” and “Myrrh. Roses corresponding to these fragrances are planted in seven designated areas. The roses are cultivated to bloom at about face level, allowing visitors to freely compare their scents and let's discover their personal favorites.The best time to see roses is from the end of May to mid-June, and October. In addition, the garden features a variety of attractions, including a colorful area where roses are planted by color, such as white, pink, vermilion, red, and yellow. There is also a section dedicated to wild species and old roses, as well as an area showcasing Japan’s native wild roses, including Otakane-bara, Yamaibara, Azumaibara, and Terihanoibara. Another highlight is the collection of Hall of Fame roses recognized by the World Rose Convention, which includes rose societies from about 40 countries worldwide. Visitors can also enjoy an area featuring award-winning roses from various competitions and a natural garden where roses are beautifully combined with perennials. The planting techniques of roses are truly remarkable! This area features five varieties of pink roses—‘The Garland, ‘Francis E. Lester,’ ‘Paul’s Himalayan Musk,’ ‘Rosa Helenae,’ and ‘Rosa Filipes’—planted and trained into a garland shape, where they bloom dynamically and beautifully. While they are stunning in full bloom, these roses are once-blooming and produce red rose hips of various sizes after flowering. In late autumn, the scene transforms into a beautiful display of rose hips, resembling delicate ornaments. By the way, the pink rose in the foreground is the old rose ‘Belle Isis.’ The poplar trees in the background are symbolic of The Fragrant Rose Garden at Echigo Hillside Park. The unique appearance of the poplar tree, with bamboo built around it and rambler-type vine roses set up as obelisks, looks like a large topiary when seen from a distance. In the open space at the front, there is a resting area with 20 sets of tables and chairs (the number may vary depending on the season). Visitors are free to bring your own food and drink, and it is common to see people spreading out their lunch boxes while enjoying the view of the roses. Smoking is prohibited(there are designated smoking areas), and pets are welcome. This area features a series of arches, each 3 meters(approx.10ft.) high and wide, elegantly adorned with roses to create a stunning vertical display. Visitors can freely stroll through the tunnel of arching roses, including Scepter’d Isle, Constance Spry, Evelyn, and Falstaff, while immersing themselves in a shower of delightful fragrances. This is a natural garden where not only roses but also perennials such as Veronica, Aquilegia vulgaris (Columbine), and Ajuga are planted together. The harmonious coordination of roses and other flowering plants serves as an inspiring reference for your own garden design. This area features a collection of fragrant roses, which are trained and kept at a lower height to make their scent easier to enjoy. The photo above shows a section planted with roses that have the scents of "Damask Modern" and "Damask Classic." The fragrance of roses is stronger in the morning when the buds open, so if you want to enjoy comparing their scents, it's best to visit in the early hours of the morning. The bright red rose in the foreground is Papa Meilland. In this area, 1.5-meter-tall(approx.1.5ft.-tall) obelisks are arranged in a fan shape to showcase the roses as a unified display. This distinctive method is unique to the “Fragrant Rose Garden at Echigo Hillside Nat’l Gov. Park.” Among them, the popular variety Pierre de Ronsard is trained to climb upward from the ground, and its profusely blooming appearance is truly impressive. In addition to the rose garden, Echigo Hillside Park is planted with flowers that bloom throughout the seasons, offering plenty to see year-round. From late March to April, you can enjoy Christmas roses, snowdrops, and dogtooth violets; from late April to early May, tulips; from late June to July, hydrangeas and lavender; and from September to October, cosmos, allowing you to experience a relay of seasonal blooms. Additionally, at The Fragrant Rose Garden at Echigo Hillside Park, you can observe unique training and pruning methods that are suited to the climate of the Sea of Japan side of the country, which is another highlight.Gardening books in bookstores are often compiled based on the Pacific Ocean side climate and tend to lack information on management methods suited to the climate of the Sea of Japan side. For those living on the snowy Sea of Japan side, participating in tour guides or workshops to learn tips for growing roses healthily is a good option. Various events are scheduled to be held in 2025. Check the official website!https://echigo-park.jp Visit the fields where the competition entries are displayed! The Fragrant Rose Garden at Echigo Hillside Park has held the “The International Fragrant Rose Trials” annually since 2005, and it has become one of Japan's three major rose competitions. Rose seedlings sent from around the world are cultivated in the same conditions over a period of two years, and are comprehensively judged on factors such as fragrance, flower beauty, and disease resistance. Judging takes place in the spring and autumn of the second year, with gold, silver, and bronze medals being awarded. The variety with the highest score among the gold medal winners receives the "Minister of Land and Transport Award," the variety with the highest score in the fragrance category receives the "Niigata Prefectural Governor's Award," and the variety that wins first place in the popular vote by general visitors receives the "Nagaoka City Mayor's Award." In the first competition, the rose in the above photo won the “Minister of Land and Transport Award.” This rose was created by breeder Kikuo Teranishi. To commemorate this award, the rose’s name was changed from the original Tiny Grace to Fragrant Hill, which is named after “The Fragrant Rose Garden at the Echigo Hillside Park”. Today, this rose has become a symbolic flower of the park. Visitors can also tour the competition fields in the park, where they can see roses that have not yet been released to the public, offering a glimpse into the latest trends. Rose soft serve ice cream and original perfumes are popular It is also recommended to enjoy tea time at the Rose Cafe, a casual resting spot in the park. The cafe is open from 9:30 AM until closing (hours vary by season), with the last call taken 30 minutes before closing time. The menu changes with the seasons, offering items like pancakes and hot dogs. Popular menu items include Yukimuro coffee for 450 yen (tax included), vegetable smoothie with mashed strawberries for 600 yen (tax included), and red rose soft serve ice cream with the sweet aroma of roses for 500 yen (tax included, only during the Rose Festival). This is a perfume and solid perfume replicating the fragrance of the symbolic rose Fragrant Hill but is no longer available for sale. In May, during the rose season, the garden plans to sell a perfume made from fragrance extracts of its roses at the gift shop. However, please confirm this with the garden. Information The Fragrant Rose Garden at Echigo Hillside Park Address: 1950-1Azamitsumata MiyamotoHigashikatamachi Nagaoka-shi, Niigata/Japan Call: 0258-47-8001https://echigo-park.jp/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/echigo_english_2024_web.pdfAccess: Approximately 10 minutes from the Kanetsu Expressway Nagaoka IC.　　　　　About 40 minutes from JR Nagaoka Station : take the bus from the Oteguchi 6th stop (heading to "New Town / Echigo Hillside Park") Rose Garden Opening Season:　April to November *The park is open year round (closed once a month from April to October, every Monday from January to March, if Monday is a public holiday, it will be closed the following day, November to December requires inquiry). Opening Hours: April to October 9:00-17:00/ November to March 9:00-16:30 Admission Fees: Adults: 450 yen Seniors(65 and over): 210 yen Free for junior high school students and younger.  Parking Fees: Standard Vehicle: 320yen Moped / Motorcycle: 100yen Large vehicles (buses, etc.): 1,030yen* Parking fees are waived from December to March when admission is free.