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.
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.
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.