Shibazakura is a pink carpet sakura produced by nature. Fuji Shibazakura Festival and Hitsujiyama Park are the popular places to see beautiful shizazakura.
Japanese people are very familiar with cherry blossoms as a symbol of spring which reminds of the coming of spring when they bloom at maximum at the beginning of spring. When you think of sakura, the one that blooms on a tree will come to your mind. However, there is another type of sakura called shibazakura (Japanese:芝桜) which blooms on the ground. It is often called “beautiful pink carpet”!
WHAT IS SHIBAZAKURA?
Reference：flickr
Shibazakura originally comes from south part of north America. The stalks of shibazakura does not erect and it blooms like grazing the ground. Shibazakura will be in full bloom between April and May. If it is in best condition, one root will extend to 50cm and look like beautiful flower carpet. The colors are white, pink and pink with mauve. The floral language is “cowardly mind”, “agreement”, “patience”, “burning love”, “flowery figure” and “devotion”.
Japanese holiday season called “Golden Week” which is in the beginning of May will be the best season to see shibazakura. Here I will introduce 2 beautiful shibazakura places you can do one-day trip from Tokyo!
No.2 HITSUJIYAMA PARK
Reference：Kaniwa
Hitsuji yama park is located in Chichibu-city, Saitama prefecture.
Reference：city chichibu
It takes about 90 mins from main area of Tokyo with local train. Hitsuji yama means “sheep mountain” because there used to be sheep park.
Reference：asahi
There are 9 types of shibazakura and total more than 4 hundreds of thousands roots are planted! The view is like pink and white gradation. This visionary view will blow your mind.
Hitsujiyama Park Address: 6360 Omiya, Chichibu-shi, Saitama 368-0023 Hours: 8:00am ~ 5:00pm Fees: \300 for adult, free for junior high school student Access: Seibu-Chichibu Line 20mins form Seibu Chichibu Station, Chichibu Railway 20 mins from Ohana Batake Station
No.1 FUJI SHIBAZAKURA FESTIVAL
Reference：shizuoka.mytabi
Fuji shibazakura festival is held in Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi Prefecture where Mt. Fuji is. This is the only place you can see shibazakura and Mt.Fuji at the same time in the world.
Reference：4travel
There are 5 types of shibazakura and more than 8 hundreds of thousands roots are planted. You must see this view!
Reference：flickr
Fuji Shibazakura Festival Address: 212 Motosu Fuji kawaguchiko-cho, Minami tsuru-gun, Yamanashi 401-0337 Period: April 16th to May 29th / Hours: 8:00am ~ 5:00pm Fees: 600 yen for over junior high school student, 250 yen for over 3 years old Access: JR Chuo Line Rapid Train 2 hours and 20 mins from Shinjuku Station to Kawaguchi-Lake Station and 30 mins from Kawaguchi Lake Station by bus (Shibazakura Liner)
