At last, the heatwave seems to be over. In the past few days, temperatures have dropped, hovering around the low 30s. The sun is still strong, but it’s much less humid and I feel like we can now actually go outside and enjoy summer! The timing couldn’t have been more perfect for a certain, much-anticipated flower festival in Kiyose city, just north-west of central Tokyo.
Located along the border of Saitama prefecture, Kiyose is considered one of Tokyo’s rural districts despite being only 25 minutes from Ikebukuro. Houses are noticeably spread out and the spaces in between are used for vegetable farms. As you walk down the busy main road and side streets, you pass by rows of radishes, carrots, long onions, potatoes, cabbages and corn. It’s hard to believe you’re still in Tokyo. While regular vegetables may not be all that exciting, thousands of people flock to one agricultural field in particular every August: a magnificent field of sunflowers!
Paradise for bees
Like golden rays of happiness, sunflowers have the power to lift people’s spirits. They are said to symbolize adoration and loyalty, and make for a great gift to someone you care about. If even just one sunflower can bring joy to someone, imagine seeing a field of hundreds of thousands of bright, yellow faces beaming up at you! From a distance, a field of sunflowers is breathtaking, but I think the flower heads are super intriguing. If you look closely, the centre of each sunflower is actually made up of lots of individual flowers—apparently there can be anything up to 2,000 florets on a sunflower head!
Yukatas, sunflowers and a dragonfly
Yours truly in a summer daze
Spot the sun umbrella
The Kiyose Sunflower Festival this year runs from August 18 to 28. The sunflowers were planted at the beginning of July and last week reached almost 2 metres tall! At the festival, visitors can wander through a vast field of 100,000 sunflowers. There are paths, but you’re basically allowed to go wherever you like—this means, there many amazing photo ops to be had! There is also a small section of food and drink stands, local produce stands and sunflower-related crafts. I couldn’t resist buying my own mini potted sunflower which now brightens up my whole room, and I’m reminded of this beautiful field every time I look at it.
100% Insta-worthy
Have you ever been to a sunflower farm? What’s the tallest sunflower you’ve seen?!
Celia in Tokyo 
This looks like a fun place to be. The sunflower farms I visit every summer here don’t have that many visitors, and we are confined to the perimeter of the field. The tallest sunflower plant I have ever seen was at least 2.5 meters.
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It was really fun! In Japan, these types of flower festivals tend to be well advertised which results in many, many people visiting. I would love to go to a sunflower farm with not many visitors! And wow, 2.5 metres!! That’s like a little tree!
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Such lovely photos Celia! Now I’m starting to miss Japan already. :)
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Thank you! It looks like you had an amazing winter holiday in Japan. Are you planning another trip soon?
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Oh yes we has an amazing winter holiday there. We actually just came back from Japan again last June. But we love Japan so maybe next year again, hopefully :)
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That’s awesome! Japan is definitely one of those countries you could never visit just once. Maybe you could try for the sakura or momiji next time!
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Hi Celia,
Thanks for brightening up my day with the sunflowers and I hope the crazy temperatures are now behind you. It’s amazing how quickly they grow and they are definitely a happy, smiley plant.
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Hi John! Happy to hear the effect of these flowers made it all the way down to Oz. Yes, fingers crossed there aren’t any more 35+ degree days… bring on autumn!
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Celia-san
As usual your storyline & photos are a joy to behold.
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Thanks!! :) :)
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I have never seen so many sunflowers. It makes you smile just looking at your photos. Thanks for sharing.
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I was surprised at how large the field was especially considering how close it is to central Tokyo! Glad it made you smile, too!! :)
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So pretty! When living in the South of France, I used to go to Valensole during the summer to see the lavender and sunflower fields. Too much joy for a photographer!!!
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Lavender and sunflowers in the south of France… that sounds like a dream! I was in Provence this year, a couple of weeks early for the lavender – but it’s one thing on my bucket list!
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You haven’t written a post on this visit, have you? In two months, I’m coming to Japan. I have to read all your posts for good tips!
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Thanks! Where are you heading to in Japan?
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Mid October for two weeks. We’re staying in Tokyo, and Kyoto.
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Perfect amount of time for 2 cities. And October is a great time to be in Japan temperature-wise!
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I cannot wait! Ina!
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So beautiful! I didn’t know that there was such a lovely place in Tokyo. I also visited sunflower field but it was in Yamanashi. Here are my photos. https://wp.me/pa9ux7-4
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Wow that field in Yamanashi looks beautiful, too! I didn’t realise there were so many sunflower farms in Japan!
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I didn’t know that there’re such beautiful sunflower farms close to Tokyo . The photos are stunning!! Those beautiful pictures made me forget about the deadly summer heat . Thanks for sharing !!
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Hi Akiko! :) I found out there’s another sunflower field in Setagaya, too… but I think it’s quite small. I was surprised at the size of the farm in Kiyose. It was so fun to wander through a sunflower maze.
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God, I love sunflowers!
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Me too. They are awesome, aren’t they!
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Fabulous!
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Thanks!!
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