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| these green plants turn red every 3rd week of October |
Website: http://en.hitachikaihin.jp/
Location: 字大沼-605-4 Mawatari, Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki-ken 312-0012, Japan
Open hours: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Monday to Sunday
Travel Time: 2 hours from Tokyo
Transportation: by limited express train from Ueno Station to JR Katstuta station and bus ride from JR Katsuta station to Hitachi Seaside Park; check train sched via http://www.hyperdia.com/en/
Bus ride: 20 to 25 minutes from JR Katsuta station (east exit bus terminal) to Hitachi Seaside Park (Nishiguchi Tsubasa no Gate - West Entrance)
Bus fare: ¥400 /head; buy tickets using the automatic dispenser or you can also pay the fare before going down the bus
Bus stops: approximately 15 bus stops
Transportation Option: ride taxi if you're group is more than 4 instead of bus
Taxi Fare: around ¥2200 from JR Katsuta Station to the West Entrance of the park
Entrance Fee: Adults ¥410, Seniors ¥210, Children ¥80, Children under 6 are free
Park's Gate: Nishiguchi Tsubasa no Gate (West Entrance)
Garden name: Miharashi no Oka and Daisogen Flower Garden, approximately 15 to 20 min walk from the entrance
Target flowers: Cosmos and red Kochias
Peak dates: 3rd week of October
Guide Map: http://en.hitachikaihin.jp/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/guidemap2016_english.pdf
It is best to ride from UENO Station so that there will be no transfers and you can ride the Limited Express Tokiwa. Don't forget to make a quick reservation before riding the Limited Express (no extra charge for JR Pass holders).
Train Stations:
Ueno - Kashiwa - Tsuchiura - Tomobe - Mito (Ibaraki) then Katsuta
At JR Katsuta Station, find the EAST EXIT bus terminal that has a black statue of two nude ladies and where Terrace Inn Katsuta is visible.
Map: http://j-parc.jp/pn/HINT2015/assets/map_of_katsuta_station.pdf
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| east exit bus terminal of Katsuta station |
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| black statue of two nude ladies in front of east exit of Katsuta station |
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| taxi and bus terminal of Katsuta station Terrace Inn is visible |
Notes:
*there are chances that you will stand inside the bus
* may encounter a driver that does not speak to you no matter how many times you ask
* after several bus stops, you will still have to walk for more than 15 to 20 minutes from the bus stop to the Nishiguchi Tsubasa no Gate (West Entrance) of the park hence, riding the taxi is better if you're a group of 4 and up
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| a long walk to the Nishiguchi Tsubasa no Gate (West Entrance) of the park |
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| Hitachi seaside park's entrance fee as of October 20, 2015 |
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| facing the west entrance, to your right is where you'll pay the entrance fee |
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| view after entering Nishiguchi Tsubasa no Gate walk to your left for 20 mins to reach Miharashi no Oka |
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| pass by the lake side fountain and keep walking |
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| cosmos and red kochias are now visible from afar |
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| head straight to this pathway and you'll see cosmos up close |
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| cosmos and red kochias of Hitachi Seaside Park |
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| red cotton balls c',) |
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| cosmos |
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| view from the mid-hill area of Miharashi no Oka |
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| view from the top of Miharashi no oka with an altitude of 58 meters, highest point in Hitachinaka City |
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| the color of pre-fall season of Japan |
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| my friend enjoying the red kochias |
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| another friend of mine, who fell in love with the place |
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| last look from afar of Miharashi no Oka and it's beauty |
After hours of walking, taking photos and gawking at the flowers, plants and the entire Miharashi no Oka, don't forget to have tea at the restaurant near the lake or try the soy sauce ice cream.
Because of all the walking up and down the hill side area of Miharashi no Oka, our feet got swollen and we have no energy to ride the bus anymore. Taxi was our solution going back to JR Katsuta Station.
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| wait for the bus here if you want to go back to JR Katsuta station |
We'll definitely visit this huge park again in late April for the tulips and early May for the Nemophila (baby blue eyes).
