Sunflowers were in season at the Kurihama Flower Park in Yokosuka, Japan, in August, but colorlful cosmos come out in September. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
Take time this month to wander fields of flowers and catch a glimpse of Godzilla at Kurihama Flower Park in Yokosuka, Japan.
The park is home to a variety of blooms that change with the seasons, and right now its fields are transitioning to colorful cosmos.
Admission is free, and while parts of the walking trail can be steep, a Flower Train runs from one end of the grounds to the other. A one-way ride costs 500 yen, or about $3.14, for adults and 300 yen for children.
Though walking trails wind throughout the grounds, the park is roughly divided into three areas: the flower garden at the entrance, a kids’ playground in the middle and the herb garden where the train line ends.
In the flower garden, seasonal blooms stretch out on every side, perfect for photos or a picnic, with plenty of seating in an elevated area near the top of the trail overlooking the field.
About a half-mile down the trail, a playground offers rope climbing, a small zip line and a 27-foot Godzilla statue with a slide built into its tail. A small vendor nearby sells ice cream and refreshments to help families cool off in the summer heat.
Passengers wait aboard a sightseeing train at Kurihama Flower Park in Yokosuka, Japan, Aug. 12, 2026. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
Visitors may wonder why a giant Godzilla looms in the middle of a flower park. The answer: Yokosuka is part of the monster’s origin story. In the original 1954 film, Godzilla first registers on radar off Cape Kannonzaki in Yokosuka before emerging in Tokyo.
At the end of the line, the herb garden holds roughly 8,000 plants across 80 varieties, one of the largest collections of its kind in the Kanto region, filled with lavender, rosemary and sage, plus a greenhouse of tropical plants.
At the end of each peak bloom, the park offers free flower picking to help clear the fields for the next season. All you have to do is bring your own scissors and gloves.
The sunflowers are nearly finished blooming, but autumn brings its own draw: about 1 million cosmos flowers blanket the central garden from September to October, a better bet for anyone who would rather skip the summer heat.
On the QT
Directions: The flower park is a 16 -minute walk from either Keikyu Kurihama Station or JR Kurihama Station. Google plus code: 6PF2+3R Yokosuka, Kanagawa
Times: Yokosuka Flower Garden is open 24/7, but shop hours vary.
Costs: Optional train tickets are 500 yen for adults and 300 yen for kids.
Food: Snacks and other refreshments are sold by park vendors.
Information: Online: www.kanagawaparks.com/kurihama
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