What other travelers are saying about Hokuryu Sunflower Village, Hokuryu
Hokuryu Sunflower Village is a breathtaking summer destination in Hokkaido, especially during its sunflower festival in late July to August. The fields are filled with over a million vibrant sunflowers that stretch as far as the eye can see, creating a stunning golden landscape perfect for photos and relaxing walks. The village is well-organized, with clear walking paths, rest areas, and food stalls offering local snacks and sunflower-themed treats. There's also a small observation deck that gives a panoramic view of the entire field. Families and photographers will enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, and the staff are friendly and accommodating. Parking is available nearby, and the site is generally accessible even for those traveling with kids or elderly family members. It's a must-visit if you're exploring central Hokkaido during summer.
The optimal viewing period is from late July to mid-August, with the first week of August typically representing peak bloom. The sunflowers begin blooming in mid-July, but the festival officially opens around July 20 annually. By early August, most areas including the popular Jumbo Maze reach full bloom status. Visiting after mid-August is not recommended, as harvesting begins in early September and flowers start to wilt.
Entry to the sunflower fields is completely free. However, there is a cooperative parking donation system that requests 500 yen for regular cars, 2,000 yen for large vehicles, and 100 yen for motorcycles. Separate charges apply for optional activities such as the sunflower maze, bicycle rentals, and the sightseeing tractor bus "Himawari-go." The festival site also includes food courts and souvenir vendors where visitors can purchase sunflower-themed products.
Visitors can explore several attractions including a giant Sunflower Maze where you navigate through tall blooms, and the sightseeing tractor bus "Himawari-go" that offers a 12-minute guided tour around the fields. The World Sunflower Corner showcases approximately 30 varieties of rare sunflowers cultivated by local junior high school students. Multiple observation decks provide panoramic views, including a two-story platform near the parking area and a wheelchair-accessible mini deck. Bicycle rentals allow visitors to explore the 23-hectare grounds at their own pace, and food courts serve sunflower soft-serve ice cream and roasted sunflower seeds.
By train, take the Lilac Limited Express or Kamui Limited Express from Sapporo Station to Fukagawa Station, which takes just over one hour. From Fukagawa Station, catch a bus from in front of Fukagawa Hospital and get off at Hokuryu Junior High School stop (the second-to-last stop), then walk five minutes to the fields. By car, the village is approximately two hours from Sapporo New Chitose Airport or 90 minutes from Asahikawa Airport. The location sits between Sapporo and Asahikawa along Route 233, making it an ideal stopover during countryside drives. Free parking is available for up to 500 vehicles with the voluntary donation system.
Approximately 2 million sunflowers bloom across the 23-hectare field each summer, covering an area roughly five times the size of Tokyo Dome. This makes it one of the largest sunflower displays in Japan. The sunflowers dramatically outnumber Hokuryu Town's population of around 2,000 residents. The festival has grown significantly since its establishment in 1987 and now attracts more than 200,000 visitors annually, making it one of Hokkaido's premier summer attractions.
I visited during the Obon holiday 14th August. It was quite crowded and fun. There was a labyrinth and a sunflower train that you could ride. This is a nice sunflower farm in Hokkaido.
It is nearly a sea of sunflowers. Colours ranging from red to yellow then to green and white! It is my first and only time to see the huge number of sunflowers. It has a maze more inside of the place and is huge ( don't spend time finding the way out, the exit is the entrance) lol, but it is definitely a great view from the inside of the sea of sunflowers. There is also a food court which serves lots of fruit and also a big car park. No worries about driving here.
It was a beautiful scenery here. There was a lot of some flowers and there is also a free photo taking service. The photos could be taken away for free. Entry was free of charge but parking was 500 yen. I went there late July and the view was perfect.
I really can’t tell if it’s full bloom at the tail end of July but what I can tell you is that there are so many types of sunflowers so there’s no harm taking a look at what they have to offer. Also, the sunflower soft serve was so good, it tasted very nutty.
