The Notsuke Peninsula is a long, narrow peninsula located in eastern Hokkaido. It is famous for its desolate landscapes, such as Todowara and Narawara, which evoke the feeling of being at the edge of Japan, but it is also known for the abundance of delicate and beautiful flowers that bloom there.

This time, we've asked Ms. Ishioroshi, a specialist at the Notsuke Peninsula Nature Center, to introduce us to the flowers that bloom in the natural flower garden of the Notsuke Peninsula. Please take a look.

Introduction

Visitors to the Notsuke Peninsula often ask me, "When is the best time to see the flowers?" It's a question that I find very difficult to answer. That's because the flowers that bloom one after another from spring to autumn offer different delights each day, making it impossible to choose a single best time.

～Table of Contents～
Enjoy a moment surrounded by flowers.
・The flower of love, the "black lily"
• The town flower of Betsukai: "Sendai-hagi" (Bush clover)
・The Ezo daylily helps you forget your daily worries.
Enjoying the coastal scenery: "Japanese rose"
・The wild iris (Iris ensata), a flower that has been cherished for centuries.
・"Akkeshisou" - a flower unique to peninsulas surrounded by the sea.
- One of the seven autumn flowers: Japanese pampas grass
- Through a field of flowers with a draft horse
- Etiquette for interacting with flowers
Enjoy the Notsuke Peninsula to the fullest
·summary

Enjoy a moment surrounded by flowers

The Notsuke Peninsula, Japan's largest sand spit, lies midway between the Shiretoko and Nemuro Peninsulas in eastern Hokkaido. The single road that traverses this peninsula, Prefectural Road 950, is known as the "Flower Road." As its name suggests, it's a road where you can enjoy a beautiful drive through a peninsula that could be described as a pristine flower garden.

Thanks to the diverse environments on the Notsuke Peninsula, approximately 320 species of plants have been identified so far.
Small flowers and large flowers, vibrant flowers and plain flowers—each has its own charm, but this time we'll introduce some popular and impressive flowers.

1. The flower of love, the "black lily"

This black lily is generally recognized as an alpine plant that grows in the mountains. However, in cool Hokkaido, it can be seen even on the Notsuke Peninsula at an altitude of only about 2 meters, and what's more, many of them are blooming just 100 meters from the center! It's a little different from the typical image of a "lily," as it produces small, deep purple flowers that bloom modestly facing downwards.

During its flowering season from late May to early June, many people come to find and photograph this flower. This black lily is not particularly showy, but it seems to possess a magical power that attracts people.

2. The town flower of Betsukai: "Sendai-hagi" (Bush Clover)

From mid-June to late July, the Sendai bush clover, the official flower of Betsukai Town, comes into bloom. It lines the roadsides and walking paths, welcoming visitors. Looking closely at each individual flower, it resembles a lemon-yellow butterfly fluttering about.

The sight of the Japanese bush clover blooming beneath the vast blue sky and white clouds is truly refreshing, signaling the arrival of early summer in Notsuke.

3. The Ezo Daylily helps us forget our daily worries.

Many people probably picture this flower when they think of flowers blooming in a natural flower garden. It's also known as Hemerocallis middendorffii or Hemerocallis middendorffii (there are various theories about its name and species). Blooming from late June to early July, its vibrant orange flowers stand out beautifully against the surrounding green. It's said to be a flower that blooms in the morning and wilts in the evening, but this breathtaking view doesn't give off that fleeting, ephemeral impression at all!

A field of orange daylilies stretching as far as the eye can see! This magnificent sight and the way these flowers bravely cling to life despite their short lifespan truly inspire me.

4. Enjoying the "Japanese rose" on a seaside trip

The period from late June to late July is a spectacular time. Japanese roses bloom all over the peninsula, and it's no exaggeration to say that the entire peninsula is a field of these flowers.

While simply admiring them from a drive is enjoyable enough, I highly recommend taking a walk along the promenade! That's because the Japanese rose (Rosa rugosa) is a type of rose and has an exceptional fragrance. You can really appreciate it if you get close and smell it, but walking through the fields of blooming roses will envelop you in a soft, elegant scent.

However, be careful when observing them up close! These beautiful flowers have thorns.

5. The "wild iris" that has been cherished for centuries.

From mid-July to early August, when summer is in full swing, the grape-colored wild iris takes center stage. The Japanese iris that is now widely popular as a garden plant is a cultivated variety of this flower. Improvements have been made since the Edo period, and there are now said to be 5,000 varieties.
The Japanese iris has captivated the Japanese people for over 400 years. Perhaps it's because the sight of its deep purple and yellow petals fluttering in the wind evokes a sense of simple elegance.

6. A unique feature of a peninsula jutting out into the sea: "Akkeshisou" (a type of glasswort).

This plant thrives in a unique environment called a "salt marsh," a wetland formed by the ebb and flow of the tides. You may have heard of it as "coral grass." Interestingly, this plant doesn't produce any flowers. While it's entirely green in the summer, its leaves change color from late September onwards, turning red.
Even without flowers, the contrast between the white of the withered trees of Todowara and the surrounding green is beautiful, and the sight of them submerged in seawater at high tide is also fantastic.

7. The seven autumn flowers: Japanese pampas grass (Susuki)

This area doesn't boast particularly beautiful flowers, but from late August to mid-September, countless pampas grass stalks extend their plumes, creating a magnificent pampas grass field. The sight of the fluffy plumes shimmering in the setting sun, the sound of them swaying in the wind, and the occasional chirping of insects—that moment slowly seeps into your heart.

A draft horse through a field of flowers

A carriage road runs parallel to the walking trail that starts from the nature center. It's a rather unusual sight to see a carriage pulled by a large draft horse traveling through the natural flower garden. You might think that you can't enjoy the flowers if you're in a carriage, but that's not the case at all!
The view from the carriage, with its elevated perspective, is dramatically different, and this height allows you to appreciate the vastness, variety, and sheer number of flowers in the flower fields even more.
The walking path and carriage road run parallel to each other, so the best way to enjoy them is to take a carriage on the way there and walk back.
Operating hours: Approximately 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (departure times are not fixed)
Operating period: May 1st to October 31st. Closed on irregular days.
Fare: One-way: Adults 500 yen, Elementary school students 300 yen

Etiquette for interacting with flowers

We should also cherish our manners towards the residents who delight our eyes, ears, and noses, and fill our hearts with joy.

Please do not pick the flowers (taking pictures is the only way to "take" them).
Please do not venture off the designated paths.
When stopping, check your surroundings for safety, pull over to the side, and turn on your hazard lights.

We ask for your cooperation so that we can continue to enjoy this sight every year, for the sake of the flowers that are working so hard to keep their lives going.

Enjoy the Notsuke Peninsula to the fullest

If you want to slowly enjoy the seasonal flowers and see as many as possible, we recommend joining a nature guide tour. The guides stationed at the nature center will walk with you, pointing out flowers you might miss, sharing their names and interesting facts, and telling you all about the wonders of the Notsuke Peninsula.

　- Todowara round trip course (approximately 2.6 km)
　　100 minutes, 3,000 yen per person (minimum 2 people; 1.5 times the price for one person)
　• Round-trip course (combination of sightseeing boat and walking tour)
　　4 hours, 7,500 yen per person (for 2 to 4 people. The price is 1.5 times higher for one person).

Please contact us for more details.

Summary

How did you like the charming flowers of the Notsuke Peninsula? Were there any flowers you'd like to see or scenery you'd like to experience? There are still many more wonderful flowers we'd like to introduce! Go and see them for yourself, experience them, and find your favorite flower and the best time to see it.

Approximately 50 minutes by car from Nakashibetsu Airport. For information on flowers on the Notsuke Peninsula and guided tours, please click here.
Notsuke Peninsula Nature Center　
Opening hours: April to October, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
　　　　November to March, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
TEL: 0153-82-1270
FAX: 0153-82-1296
E-mail：notsukenc@aurens.or.jp

For tourist information about Betsukai Town, where the Notsuke Peninsula is located...
Once you get this far, it's a whole different world! (Betsukai Town Tourism Association Homepage)

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