Kodai Hasu No Sato (Ancient Lotuses Park)

Kodai Hasu no Sato (Ancient Lotus Village) refers to a facility including a park in Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture. Centered around the city’s natural monument, the ancient lotus, the site cultivates lotus flowers said to date back around 1,400 to 3,000 years in lotus ponds, and every early summer an impressive display of 42 varieties and 120,000 lotus plants blooms in full. The best viewing time is in the morning, ideally as early as possible. In addition to lotus flowers, the site features an aquatic plant garden, a waterbird pond, a peony garden, and natural scenery such as plum blossoms and cherry blossoms that can be enjoyed year-round. The illuminations are also well known, but in recent years the rice paddy art has become especially famous. With a world-class scale of about 2.8 hectares, it was recognized by Guinness World Records in 2015 as the “world’s largest rice paddy art.” The best viewing season is from mid-July through October. It is not only an art display but also collaborates with movies, dramas, and games, making it a must-see for fans. Access to Kodai Hasu no Sato is easy: from Gyoda Station on the JR Takasaki Line, take the city loop bus for 21 minutes, get off at “Kodai Hasu no Sato,” and it is right there. With parking, an udon shop, and a store, it is also popular as an easy day-trip destination.