The flower park on the Mt. Fuji tour: zinnia field, willow path, open lawn and garden terrace, with a flower calendar, opening hours and practical tips.
If you want Mt. Fuji behind you and seasonal flowers all around, the place is Hana no Miyako Flower Park, a short drive from Lake Yamanaka. The Mt. Fuji tour visits the lakeshore and this park in a single day. This guide covers the park's photo spots, which flowers bloom when, and the practical details of shooting there.
About the park
Hana no Miyako Park is at 1650 Yamanaka, Yamanakako village, Yamanashi, on the slopes at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Within its grounds are seasonal flower fields, a willow-lined path, a wide lawn and a garden with a wisteria trellis.
What makes it special is the composition: flower fields in the foreground and the mountain rising beyond them. And because showy places like the fields and quiet places like the willow path and the shade of the trees sit in the same park, you get photos with very different moods even in a limited shooting time.
Flower fields that change with the season
The fields change through the year: tulips in spring, mustard flowers and poppies in early summer, sunflowers in summer, and zinnias and cosmos from summer into autumn. Zinnias peak from mid-July to early October, with the dates shifting a little each year. Spring and early summer are covered in Spring at Mt. Fuji, and the sunflowers and zinnias in Summer at Mt. Fuji.
Because the colours change completely with the season, once your date is set we look at what will be in bloom and choose your outfit colours and bouquet to match. If the flower fields are the main reason for your shoot, talk to us before fixing a date. In quieter months there are still places that work in every season: the willow path, the lawn and the garden terrace.
Photo spots in the park
The zinnia field
From summer into autumn one corner of the park is a sea of zinnias in red, pink, orange and yellow. The flowers reach about waist height, so standing among them fills the frame with colour, with a line of trees and Mt. Fuji beyond. A proposal scene, the groom on one knee taking the bride's hand, is a favourite here.
Beyond the zinnias there are other beds, including tall spires of blue-purple salvia, so the colour of the field changes with the time of year.
The willow path
Weeping willows arch over the path from both sides and close into a green tunnel. Light falls through the leaves in patches and the composition finds its depth by itself. A calm counterpoint to the flower fields, it suits both dresses and kimono and works in every season. Shot vertically, the lines of the trees echo your standing figures.
The open lawn
The most open corner of the park, with almost nothing man-made in view: grass, hills and sky. It suits relaxed, natural photos, walking, sitting, leaning together. Place the two of you small in the frame with a large Mt. Fuji and the photo becomes a landscape, perfect across an album spread. It is also the best spot for photos with children or family.
The garden terrace
A corner of lawn with a white table and chairs, and a wisteria trellis beside it. Sitting across from each other turns into a garden-party scene. The shade makes it comfortable on bright days, and the mood is quite different from the fields and the path.
Tips for shooting in the park
Match your outfit to the flowers
In the fields, the pairing of flower colour and outfit colour sets the mood of the photo. A white wedding dress works with every season's flowers, and the flower colour becomes the accent. For a coloured dress, a shade in the same family as the flowers looks soft, while a contrasting colour makes the outfit stand out among them. Choosing the bouquet to match the field ties the whole picture together; an artificial bouquet and boutonnière are included in the tour, so we choose them with you at the fitting.
Shoot from behind and from a distance too
Beyond the straight-on portraits, we photograph you walking away between the rows, and from a distance with the field and the mountain filling the frame. These shots show the scale of the park and give your album a sense of flow.
Flower calendar
From the park's own calendar. Dates shift each year with the weather.
| Approximate peak | Flower |
|---|---|
| Late April to early May | Tulips |
| Early May to early June | Nemophila (Seiryu no Sato area) |
| Mid to late June | Mustard flowers (kikarashi) |
| Late June to mid-July | Poppies, cornflowers, baby's breath |
| Mid-July to early October | Zinnias |
| Mid to late August | Sunflowers |
| Late August to mid-October | Yellow cosmos |
| Mid-September to mid-October | Cosmos |
From winter into early spring there are few flowers in the fields, but that is when a snow-capped Fuji is most often clear. We shoot on the willow path and the lawn instead, in crisp air. The seasons are compared in When to take Mt. Fuji pre-wedding photos.
Opening hours: 8:30–17:30 from 16 April to 15 October, and 9:00–16:30 from 16 October to 15 April. From 1 December to 15 March the park closes on Tuesdays (except public holidays). We plan the day's spots and timing around this once your date is fixed. Admission is included in the tour.
The day and the shooting time
You get dressed at our Yokohama or Nagoya studio before departure; there is no changing at the park. A sample day from Yokohama:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 12:00 | Hair, makeup and dressing at the Yokohama studio |
| 13:30 | Depart; about 2 hours to the locations |
| 15:30 | Spot 1, Lake Yamanaka (about 45 minutes) |
| 16:20 | Drive to the park (about 10 minutes) |
| 16:30 | Spot 2, Hana no Miyako Park (about 45 minutes) |
| 19:15 | Back at the studio |
The lake and the park are about 10 minutes apart by car, so both fit comfortably into one day. The park session is about 45 minutes. From Nagoya the drive is about an hour longer each way. More in Your Mt. Fuji photoshoot day.
Clothing and footing
In the flower fields you walk between rows of bare earth, and the path and lawn are unpaved in places, so the hem of a dress can pick up a little soil or grass. If that concerns you, mention it at the fitting. At about 1,000 m the park can feel cool depending on the season; bring a layer for the drive and the breaks. See the cold-weather guide.
Other visitors
The park is open to the public and is not closed for our shoots, but it is large enough that we can always choose positions and angles that keep other visitors out of the frame.
Rain, and days when Fuji is hidden
If it rains on your day, you can reschedule free of charge by contacting us before noon the day before; we look at the forecast together and choose a new date. If the mountain is behind cloud, the Mt. Fuji Special Retouch restores it to your favourite 10 photos at no charge. See What if Mt. Fuji is hidden by clouds?
Questions about the park
Can we shoot both the park and the lake in one day?
Yes. The Mt. Fuji Two-Location Tour visits the shore of Lake Yamanaka and Hana no Miyako Park in a single day.
Can we change at the park?
No. All changing is done at the departure studio in Yokohama or Nagoya.
Can we shoot when nothing is in bloom?
Yes. The willow path, the open lawn and the garden terrace work in every season, and in winter you have a snow-capped Fuji behind you.
Does a kimono work here?
Yes. The tour can be shot in a dress or a kimono, and the willow path in particular suits a kimono beautifully.
Can we join from Nagoya?
Yes. Departures from the Nagoya studio carry a surcharge; see Prices and how to choose a plan.
The lakeshore half of the day is described in Lake Yamanaka, and all seven spots with photos on the locations page.
Ask us about your Mt. Fuji photoshoot
Send your travel dates and the look you have in mind. We reply in English by email, with no obligation.
