May 4, 2023
May and June are prime months to witness blooming flowers during your hikes in the 1000~2000m altitudes. The weather during this season is typically comfortable, with temperatures not yet too hot or humid. Here are my top five hiking recommendations for May and June.
Kuju Mountains, Kyushu
Between May and June, the mountain flower "Miyama Kirishima" colors the mountains of Kyushu. It grows only in Kyushu's volcanoes and surrounding highlands. The plant is low-lying and covers the mountain surface like a carpet, with a height of about 50cm to 1m. Famous spots to enjoy the Miyama Kirishima include Kuju Mountains, Aso Mountain, Kirishima Mountains, Unzen-dake, and Yufu-dake. In particular, the Miyama Kirishima of Kuju Mountains is well-known and attracts many climbers from Japan and overseas every year.
Oze National Park
In the mountains spanning across Gunma, Fukushima, and Niigata prefectures, there's a marshland with Mizubasho flowers blooming from May to June. The season begins in late May as snow melts and temperatures can be chilly. You can enjoy hiking through the marshland, ponds, and waterfalls while admiring the scenery and flowers. The path is mostly flat, making it suitable for beginners and families.
Sado Island, Niigata
Sado Island is known as the "Island of Flowers" because flowers bloom all over the island. The island is best known for "Tobishima Kanzo", which blooms from late May to mid-June every year and belongs to the lily family. There are hiking courses ranging from 2 to 7 hours, all are very easy. Sado Island lies off the coast of of Niigata. From Tokyo, it takes about 4 hours by bullet train and ferry.
Kirigamine Highlands, Nagano
The Kirigamine Highlands in Nagano are known for the stunning Rhododendron flowers, which can be seen from Lake Shirakaba to the Sharama Highland in June. It's a three-hour drive from Tokyo and best accessed by car.
Sennokura, Tanigawa Mountain Range
The Tanigawa mountain range crosses Gunma and Niigata Prefectures. While the ropeway is the usual route to the summit, the more challenging Sennokura route is less crowded. From May to June, the ridge line boasts a stunning flower field, with clusters of chinguruma, hakusan-kouzakura, and miyama-kinbai.