Echigo Hillside National Government Park

This national government park in Nagaoka, Niigata is the only one in the Hokuriku region. Spanning 400 hectares across rolling hills, the expansive grounds are made up of two areas: the “Wellness Zone,” where you can enjoy seasonal flowers and a wide variety of playground equipment, and the “Satoyama Field Museum,” where you can fully experience rich nature.

From spring to fall, the park is a treasure trove of flowers, with spots like the “Flower Hill Area,” where you can stroll among seasonal blooms such as spring tulips, summer sunflowers, and fall cosmos, and the “Hydrangea Garden,” where 18,000 plants color the slopes. The top attraction is the “Nagaoka Fragrant Rose Garden,” featuring 2,400 rose bushes from Approx. 800 varieties. This rose garden is divided into eight areas themed around fragrance, where you can enjoy colorful blooms and sweet scents. Another highlight is that roses are at their best twice a year: early summer (late May to mid-June) and fall (October). During bloom season, a variety of events are also held as the “Fragrant Rose Festival.”

In the green season, there’s plenty to do, including a mountain-shaped trampoline, 26 types of playground equipment, and a grass sledding slope, plus a BBQ area, an observation deck with views of the Echigo Sanzan mountains, and a summer-only water play area. In winter, you can enjoy snow activities such as sledding on a dedicated slope, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.