Hitsujiyama Park Shibazakura Hill Trail

Hitsujiyama Park sits about a 20-minute walk from Seibu-Chichibu Station in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, and requires no special permit to enter, though a park admission fee of ¥300 applies during the Shibazakura Festival period. The walking paths cover about 2km across the park's gently sloping hillside, with elevation change of under 40m, making this one of the easiest outings in the Chichibu hiking network. The paths are paved or packed gravel for most of their length, winding between terraced beds of shibazakura, or moss phlox, which bloom in pink, white, and purple from mid-April to early May, creating a patchwork of colour across the hillside with Mount Buko rising in the background. Outside the bloom period, the same paths remain open for an easy walk with views over the Chichibu basin and the surrounding mountains, and the park includes rest areas, benches, and a small visitor facility near the entrance. Shade is limited across the open flower terraces, so sun protection matters during the spring festival despite the short duration of the walk. There is no natural water source within the park, but vendors sell drinks and snacks near the entrance during the festival. Because the terrain is gentle and the paths are wide, the park draws visitors of all ages and fitness levels, from families with strollers on the lower paths to hikers combining the visit with a longer day exploring Chichibu's other trails. The park is one of the most photographed shibazakura sites in the Kanto region, particularly from the elevated viewpoint at the park's centre, where the flower terraces align with Mount Buko for the classic postcard view. Weekday mornings during the festival offer noticeably lighter crowds than weekend afternoons, when the narrow viewing paths can become congested.