Flower Fields of Sera and the White-Walled Townscape of Joge (By Car)

This driving itinerary explores flower tourism farms in Sera-cho, located in the central-eastern part of Hiroshima Prefecture, and Joge-cho in Fuchu City. After visiting Flower Village Kamu-no-Sato and Sera Kogen Farm, which blanket the hills with blossoms each season, you will stroll through the townscape of Joge, lined with merchant houses featuring white walls and namako (lattice-patterned plaster) walls.

History and Regional Appeal

Sera-cho is a town spread across a plateau ranging from 350 to 450 meters in elevation, known as the Sera Plateau. Marked by a large temperature difference between day and night, it is a major producer of agricultural goods, and large-scale flower tourism farms are dotted throughout the town. In the Sera Plateau area, there are four flower tourism farms—Sera Kogen Farm, Flower Village Kamu-no-Sato, Sora no Hanabatake Sera Kogen Hana no Mori, and Sera Fuji En—attracting 300,000 visitors annually.

Traveling northeast from Sera Kogen Farm brings you to Joge-cho, a mountain pass town located on the watershed of the Chugoku Mountains. During the Edo period, it prospered as a post town on the Sekishu Kaido leading to the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and came under direct control of the shogunate. Its history of developing as a town of finance and commerce where a magistrate's office was established is still preserved in its white-walled townscape. Plateau flower fields and a highway post town—you can experience the nature and history of the Sera Plateau in a single day.

Major Highlights

• ​Flower Village Kamu-no-Sato​​: A flower tourism farm operated by Sera Kogen Farm, set in a nature-rich location overlooking surrounding mountains. In spring, 300,000 moss phlox plants and 1,000,000 nemophila blossoms cover 40,000 square meters of hills, one of the largest scales in western Japan. The hills change color each season, with hydrangeas and hollyhocks in early summer, Heavenly Blue morning glories in summer, and kochia and cosmos in autumn.
• ​Sera Kogen Farm​​: The farm with the longest history among the four farms in the Sera Plateau area. Extensive plantings spread across the grounds, including weeping cherry blossoms across a hill of about 30,000 square meters and 750,000 tulips across an entire 65,000-square-meter field in spring, about 1,100,000 sunflowers in summer, and dahlias and garden mums in autumn.
• ​Joge-cho​​: The town's main street is a commercial street known as the "White-Walled Townscape," lined with traditional merchant houses featuring white walls, namako walls, and lattice windows. Historic buildings remain within the streetscape, such as the Joge Christian Church with its eye-catching octagonal tower, and Okinaza Theater, a wooden playhouse built by local residents in the Taisho era.

Recommended Itinerary and Required Time

The estimated time required is about 6 hours. For the first stop, Flower Village Kamu-no-Sato, it takes about 25 minutes by car (approx. 21 km) from the Sera Interchange. Please be aware that there are no convenience stores or gas stations along this route. It is recommended to arrive early, as it becomes crowded during major holiday periods.

From Kamu-no-Sato, it is about a 25-minute drive (approx. 11 km east) to Sera Kogen Farm. Both farms are open for specific periods according to each flower festival. Visiting in spring allows you to enjoy spring flowers at both farms: moss phlox and nemophila at Kamu-no-Sato, and weeping cherry blossoms and tulips at Sera Kogen Farm. Before heading out, check the official website for opening periods and blooming conditions. Sera Kogen Farm also features dining facilities and souvenir shops.

Finally, head to Joge-cho, about 8 km northeast of Sera Kogen Farm. As you walk along the white-walled townscape, look for the lattices of the merchant houses and the marks where eaves were trimmed back when the road was widened in the early Showa period. At the end of the road across Okina Bridge from Honmachi-dori Street stands Okinaza Theater. Walking with a local guide will allow you to see spots accessible only on guided tours.

Summary of the Experience

Vivid flower colors covering plateau hills and white-walled buildings remaining in a post town along the road to the silver mine. After taking in the seasonal blossoms, stroll through the quiet streetscape and savor a day in the Sera Plateau and Joge.