Hitachi Seaside Park (国営ひたち海浜公園) in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, is holding its "Tobikkiri! Summer Fair" ("Extra-Special! Summer Fair") from Saturday, July 18 through Monday, August 31, 2026. The fair brings together a wide range of ways to enjoy summer at the park, including colorful seasonal flowers, water play and hands-on activities perfect for summer memories, and cool, refreshing treats to beat the heat.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Fair Period | July 18 (Sat) to August 31 (Mon), 2026 |
| Open Days | Open every day during the fair period |
| Hours | 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM |
This Year's Flower Fields Under the Summer Sky
This year marks the 20th anniversary of kochia planting at the park, and for the first time, kochia has also been planted at Miharashi-no-Sato at the foot of Miharashi Hill, giving visitors a summer landscape with a different look from previous years. After soaking up the midsummer sun, the kochia is expected to grow into its signature fluffy, rounded form — reaching about 70 cm tall — by August. The Welcome Garden near the first summit entrance of Miharashi Hill has also expanded its planting area, adding 31 varieties of flowers, six more than last year. Each with its own character, the flowers bloom one after another, adding vivid color to a stroll through the park.
Kochia (photographed July 9, 2026)
Welcome Garden (photographed August 26, 2025)
| Best Viewing | Location | Varieties | Number of Plants | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kochia (Green Leaf) | Mid-August to late September | Miharashi Hill / Miharashi-no-Sato | 4 varieties (incl. specimen garden) | Approx. 40,000 |
| Welcome Garden | Mid-August to late October | Near Miharashi Hill's first summit | 31 varieties | Approx. 40,000 |
| Zinnia | From late July | Miharashi-no-Sato | 1 variety (2 colors) | Approx. 350,000 |
| Sunflower | From mid-August | Flower fields near the BMX course | 5 varieties | Approx. 5,400 (plus approx. 150 Apollo variety plants) |
"Water Play Area" Opens, a Popular Summer Spot
The Water Play Area opens on Saturday, July 18, offering three ways to cool off: the Water Tunnel, Fountain Plaza, and Splash Pond. Visitors can walk through a wall of water or lie back at the water's edge, making it one of the park's most popular spots for beating the summer heat.
Water Tunnel
Fountain Plaza
Splash Pond
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Period | July 18 (Sat) to August 31 (Mon), 2026 |
| Hours | 9:30 AM until 30 minutes before closing |
| Location | Water Play Area, inside Pleasure Garden |
Plenty More to Enjoy: Events and Treats
Events for Summer Memories
During the fair, the park is hosting a variety of events well-suited to summer vacation projects and crafts. Family-friendly activities include "Easy Pottery Experience: Make a Piggy Bank" (July 26 and 29), where visitors design an original piggy bank around a theme of their choosing, and "Make an Eco Pot" (August 1), using materials that return to the soil. Continuing from last year, the park is also holding "Beetle House" (July 18 to August 2), with a hands-on corner where visitors can touch beetles and a display corner featuring rare species — a chance to encounter beetles not often seen up close.
"Easy Pottery Experience: Make a Piggy Bank" (July 26 and 29)
"Make an Eco Pot" (August 1)
"Beetle House" (July 18 to August 2)
Cool Treats for Summer
The park is also selling a lineup of cool, refreshing menu items for the hot summer season, including the "Amethyst Soda," fragrant with refreshing yuzu and floral honey, and the "Melon Baumkuchen Soft Serve," filled with the sweet aroma of melon. Both make a welcome break during a stroll through the park or time spent playing outside.
