Explorer The Wonderland. Eastern Hokkaido

Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park

Vast hillsides filled with vibrant pink shibazakura (moss phlox) blossoms create a truly breathtaking sight. Visitors will doubtlessly be surprised to learn that most of the moss phlox was planted by a single person -- by hand. These hills tell the story of one man's love for flowers. The park began with a single bushel of moss phlox planted in a garden immediately after the end of the war. The owner diligently spread the flowers into a veritable moss phlox park behind his house. This remarkable story and beautiful sight would propel a tiny town to nationwide fame.