A “classic” stop in a park north of Tokyo is also a natural wonder

A field of poppies in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, blooms in May, about 90 minutes north of Yokota Air Base. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)

Summer is here and with it the opportunity to discover the many sites and events of a town hidden in a valley in Saitama Prefecture, not far from Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo.

Surrounded by mountains, Chichibu is a welcoming, nature-filled weekend destination. On a cloudy day in late May, local friends helped my family and I navigate the area.

We took a winding road to Chichibu Muse Park, a busy recreation area that spans nearly 1,000 acres across the city. The park is divided into four zones made up of sports areas, cultural activities, hiking and open spaces for adults and children.

The park also houses a large concert hall and a large outdoor entertainment stage that can accommodate up to 5,000 visitors. It offers opportunities to experience local artistic expressions, including Japanese music and dance.

Greek statues stand inside a fountain at Muse Park in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, about 90 minutes north of Yokota Air Base. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)

We visited the captivating Fountain of the Muses, an acre of Greek-style marble statues and columns.

A rest pavilion called the Parthenon, named after the Greek architectural marvel, provided a comfortable respite after a day of rain and thick fog. There we found a small cafe and sales area, which also serves as an evacuation zone.

The flower gardens found throughout the park are full of a range of species including rhododendron, hydrangea and daffodil and can be seen throughout spring.

Greek columns and statues stand inside a fountain at Muse Park in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, about 90 minutes north of Yokota Air Base.

Greek columns and statues sit inside a fountain at Muse Park in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, about 90 minutes north of Yokota Air Base. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)

Greek-style structures stand inside Muse Park in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, about 90 minutes north of Yokota Air Base. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)

Later, as the rain continued, we took a winding mountain road to Higashi-Chichibu to try to observe the Tenku no Poppy, or “poppies in the sky,” at Sainokuni Fureai Ranch.

On a beautiful spring day, millions of red, white and pink poppies spread across green fields to the horizon. However, on this day we noticed that thick clouds had settled there and, unfortunately, obscured the view.

We weren’t entirely disappointed as we drove down to a lower ranch that has red poppies in the same area. Thousands of people usually come to take pictures of the poppies in the sky from mid-May to June.

We have booked Hitsujiyama Park, well known for its pink moss hill, for a future visit. The season has passed, but when in bloom, approximately 800,000 flowers appear on the six-acre plot; multitudes of visitors come from near and far to admire them each year during the Fuji Shibazakura Matsuri festival which takes place in mid-spring.

Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, a mountainous and heavily forested park of almost 1,200 km², is also worth a visit. It spans four prefectures, including Saitama, Nagano, Yamanashi and part of Tokyo. If you like hiking, this park will be perfect, but be careful of the bears that inhabit the area.

On the QT

Directions: About 90 minutes by car from Yokota Air Base; two hours by train. Muse Park at 2518 Nagaru, Ogano, Chichibu Ward, Saitama 368-0102; Poppies in the Sky field at 2949-1 Sakamoto, Higashichichibu Village, Chichibu Ward, Saitama Prefecture, 355-0372.

Hours: Chichibu Muse Park is open every day all year round.

Costs: Parking and entry are free at Muse Park.

Food: Cafe, vending machines and picnic areas available at Muse Park.

Information: Online: muse-park.com; tenku-poppy.jp; there are restrooms at Muse Park. Parking is available for the poppy field, but the mountain road leading there can be busy.