The stunning Pink Moss Fields – A Must-See Natural Wonder | Japan’s Top 6 Shibazakura Spots

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

Japan’s cherry blossom season is in full swing, with regions such as Kanto and Kansai already in bloom. In Hokkaido, due to its higher latitude, the blossoms appear later. In addition to pink and white varieties like Yoshino and Oshima cherry blossoms, shibazakura (moss phlox) is also a must-see highlight. The vibrant pink floral carpets woven by hundreds of thousands of shibazakura blooms create a stunning contrast of colors, transforming the landscape into a painterly flower festival.

1. Mount Fuji - Fuji Cherry Blossom Season
The Fuji Shibazakura Festival is held annually from mid-April to the end of May. At the foot of the mountain, an 800,000-strong pink shibazakura floral carpet forms the largest shibazakura event in the Kanto region. The vivid pink blooms complement the iconic Mount Fuji peaks and surrounding grasslands, creating a rare and beautiful early summer spectacle.
 
Location: 212 Honshu, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture (Fuji Honshu Lake Resort)
Dates: April 14 (Sat) – May 27 (Sun)

2. W?裣?– Yamaguchiyama Park
Yamaguchiyama Park’s shibazakura season runs from mid-April to early May. The park features nine varieties of shibazakura, with over 400,000 plants covering the hillsides. The landscape is adorned with vibrant red, pink, white, and purple floral carpets, creating a magnificent and colorful scene. 

Location: W?裣刂雀甘写蠊?267
Dates: April 13 (Fri) – May 6 (Sun)

3. Aichi Prefecture – Chausuyama Plateau
At an elevation of 1,358 meters, visitors can gaze upon expansive shibazakura floral carpets spanning 22,000 square meters. Over 400,000 shibazakura bloom across the vast land in shades of pink, white, light blue, and lavender, presenting a breathtaking and vivid scene. 

Location: Sakuyaba Goshibarai, Tonami Village, Kitashitara District, Aichi Prefecture
Dates: May 12 – June 10

4. Hiroshima Prefecture – Hanamuno Sato
Known as the “Shibazakura Wonderland,” Hanamuno Sato features 800,000 four-colored shibazakura blooming across a 50,000-square-meter hillside. Every year in mid-April, the vibrant blooms transform the area into a picturesque, oil-painting-like scene. 

Location: 3-3 Kamitsuda, Sera-cho, Sera-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture
Dates: Mid-April – Early May