Japan’s largest: Millions of lilies bloom across the mountains!

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department
 

If you want to stroll through a colorful sea of lilies, you absolutely can’t miss HUNTER MOUNTAIN Lily Garden, known as Japan’s largest-scale lily base. From mid-July to late August each year, the garden is home to up to 4 million lilies of 50 different varieties, creating a dreamy and breathtaking scene. Beyond admiring the beauty of the lilies with your eyes, you can also try the unique lily-flavored ice cream at the garden. The lily blooming period in 2015 is expected to run from July 18 to August 30.

Located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, HUNTER MOUNTAIN Lily Garden spans a vast area atop the famous Nasu Plateau, covering approximately 100,000 square meters. It features 4 million lilies of 50 varieties, set against a cool and pleasant climate. The area is surrounded by renowned hot springs such as Nasu Onsen and Kinugawa Onsen, and was once designated as an imperial summer retreat by the Emperor of Japan.

At HUNTER MOUNTAIN Lily Garden, visitors have various ways to enjoy the lily fields, including taking a four-seater sightseeing cable car to admire the colorful lily carpet from above. There’s also the “Birch Ridge,” where birch trees complement the lilies, along with various themed floral displays created by local junior high school students using lilies. For a more fun flower-viewing experience, the garden offers horses so visitors can ride through the lily-filled paths. And of course, don’t miss the garden’s most special treat — lily-flavored ice cream!