B-grade gourmet food

[Hirata Village, Fukushima Prefecture] A panoramic view of nature! Head to Jupia Land Hirata to see a carpet of moss pinks

Hirata Village is located in the southeast of Fukushima Prefecture. At Jupia Land Hirata, located at the foot of Mount Yomota, the village's symbol, 250,000 pink and red moss phlox flowers bloom all at once across an area of ​​approximately 2.3 hectares, creating a spectacle that resembles a carpet of flowers when in full bloom

This time, we will introduce the moss phlox at Jupia Land Hirata and famous cherry blossom spots in Hirata Village that can be enjoyed at the same time

Hirata Village is actually known as "Japan's spiciest village."
What is the secret behind the village's famous spicy food?
We'll also introduce some spots where you can experience that spiciness.

Please be sure to watch until the end!

Panoramic view of nature at Jupia Land Hirata

At Jupia Land Hirata, approximately 250,000 moss phlox plants are planted across an area of ​​approximately 2.3 hectares, creating a flower field that looks like a pink carpet

In addition to the moss phlox, the park is also famous for its hydrangeas, with 27,000 popular varieties and approximately 825 new varieties, including Hirata's original hydrangeas, planted here

The World Hydrangea and Lily Festival is held every year from late June to mid-July, where you can enjoy almost all the varieties of hydrangeas in the world and over 30 types of fragrant lilies

 

When is the best time to see the moss phlox?

The best time to see the flowers is from late April to mid-May, when the Shibazakura Festival is held

The 2023 Shibazakura Festival is scheduled to be held from April 18th to May 14th

Jupialand Hirata is an outdoor experience facility that takes advantage of the natural surroundings at the foot of Mt. Yomogida, offering a place to relax and unwind.
Because it's built on the slopes of the mountain, there are some areas with steep inclines and declines, but 4WD electric wheelchairs are available to ensure smooth movement throughout the park. A sightseeing cart is also available for touring the park (200 yen per person).

It's wonderful to see the thoughtful consideration given to making it enjoyable for all generations.
If you climb the mountain and go near the summit, you'll reach 634 meters, the same height as the Tokyo Skytree. You can enjoy beautiful moss phlox and a panoramic view.

A city-town scarecrow competition will also be held at the same time

During the Shibazakura Festival, a Scarecrow Competition will be held at the special venue for the festival

This is the sixth time the scarecrow contest has been held, and the winners will be decided by visitor votes. Those who are voted for will be entered into a lottery to win local products, so be sure to cast your vote if you are visiting during the Shibazakura Festival

The humorous scarecrows are heartwarming

INFORMATION

  • Name: Jupia Land Hirata
  • Address: 437 Yomoda-dake, Yomoda-shinden, Hirata-mura, Ishikawa-gun
  • Parking available
  • Inquiries: 0247-55-3535
  • Opening hours: 8:30am - 5pm (last entrance 4pm)
  • Admission fee: 500 yen for adults and free for junior high school students and younger during the festival period
  • Closed days: Open every day during festivals
  • Access: 10 minutes by car from Hirata IC on the Abukuma Highlands Road

GOOGLE MAP

Iwakura Sakura, a 550-year-old single cherry tree

The Iwakura Cherry Tree is an ancient Edo Higan cherry tree over 550 years old, designated as a natural monument of Hirata Village. It stands 16 meters tall and has a trunk circumference of 6 meters.
It is said that this area was once a place for trimming horse hooves, and a sericulture shrine and a statue of Batō Kannon (Horse-Headed Kannon) have been erected beneath the tree.

In the Tokiko administrative district where the Iwakura cherry blossoms are located, local residents are working to restore the tree's vigor and improve the environment, and have constructed parking lots, wooden decks, and benches

The best time to see the flowers is usually in late April, and many visitors come to see them during the flowering season

INFORMATION

  • Address: Hirata Village, Tokiko, Migo
  • Parking available
  • Inquiries: 0247-55-3115 (Hirata Village Office)
  • Access: 10 minutes by car from Hirata IC on the Abukuma Highlands Road

GOOGLE MAP

Take a break at Hirata Roadside Station

Roadside Station Hirata is the symbol of the village, located at the crossing point of National Route 49 and the Abukuma Highland Road "Hirata IC."

We have a wide selection of highland vegetables, including the village's specialty asparagus and wild yam, and Hirata Village's original sweet potato, "Hirata Silk," as well as Japanese and Western sweets

The spiciest village in Japan? The specialty is habanero

The reason Hirata Village is known as the spiciest village in Japan is because of habanero!

Habaneros began to be cultivated in 2010 as a new village specialty. At first, they were so spicy that they didn't sell at all, but they decided to "make something as spicy as possible," and when they started developing processed products, their reputation spread through word of mouth

It has now become a local specialty, attracting challengers from all over the country to try it as "the spiciest village in Japan."

Try the hellish soft serve and curry at the roadside station!

At Hirata Roadside Station, you can purchase products made with the village's new specialty, habanero peppers

For those who love extremely spicy food, we highly recommend trying the "Habanero Soft Serve."
Habanero Soft Serve comes in three levels: beginner, advanced, and hellish. The completion rate for the hellish level is 8.6%! 454 people have managed to finish it. (As of July 2022)

Another dish available at "Soba-dokoro Takeyama" is the "Raw Hell Curry,"
which has a completion rate of 29.1%.

The direct sales store sells the instant curry "Karain Jigoku" so why not buy it as a souvenir?

By the way, here is the description of the Hell-level Habanero Soft Serve!

I guarantee you'll find yourself screaming, "Call an ambulance!" I recommend this to anyone who wants to enjoy habanero to their heart's content. I mean, there are people who have already eaten it, so I don't think it's impossible to eat

the Hirata Roadside Station websiteFrom

As "Japan's spiciest village," we welcome challengers who love spicy food!

INFORMATION

  • Name: Hirata Roadside Station
  • Address: 160 Yokomorigo, Kamiyoda, Hirata Village, Ishikawa County, Fukushima Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0247-55-3501
  • Access: 5 minutes by car from Hirata IC on the Abukuma Highlands Road　
  • Holiday: January 1st every year
  • Direct sales store Weekdays: 9:30-18:00 Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays: 9:00-18:00
  • Soba Restaurant Takeyama 11:00 - 17:00
  • Fast food 10:00 - 17:00

GOOGLE MAP

"Jupia Land Hirata" Summary

Hirata Village is a village overflowing with nature, yet it's easily accessible thanks to the Abukuma Highlands Road.
Please come and see the breathtaking carpet of moss phlox spreading across the vast natural landscape.
For those who love spicy food, why not try the habanero peppers!

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