Chiba's Stunning Windmill Flower Garden Is In Full Bloom

Just an hour from Tokyo, swathes of cheery yellow sunflowers and a traditional windmill offer a striking contrast to Japan‘s traditional landscape. This spot in Chiba Prefecture sees Sakura City celebrate its sunflower garden in full bloom at Sakura Furusato Square from July 8-23 – here’s everything you need to know.

Background

Sakura’s Windmill Sunflower Garden consists of over 20,000 sunflower plants. The windmill towering over the blooms is known as De Liefde (‘The Love’), named after the first Dutch vessel to reach these shores back in 1600. It was erected by a Dutch millwright company in 1994 to commemorate Sakura City’s 40th anniversary.

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Celebrating the blooms

During the festival, boat tours are offered around the area on Lake Inbanuma, while souvenirs, snacks and specialty products are sold on site from 9am-3pm daily. Visitors can also choose to take home up to three flowers each from the picking area, but are asked to bring their own scissors and bags.

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Where to find the festival

Sakura City is most famous for its Tulip Festival held in Furusato Square every year in spring. The city is about an hour away from central Tokyo on the Sobu and Keisei Lines.