Located in the southern part of Awaji, the Nadakuroiwa narcissus (daffodil) field is a meadow of wild daffodils growing on a steep hillside overlooking the surrounding coast. With around five million daffodil flowers, it is known as one of Japan’s top three wild flower fields. The origin of this place can apparently be traced back about 180 years ago, when local fisherman planted daffodil bulbs that had washed ashore. Since then, the flowers have been naturally growing and multiplying, and now they cover an area of about 7 hectares. The entrance fee to the park is ¥500 for adults and ¥300 for children, with free parking included. Be aware that the whole daffodil field is located on a steep slope, so you have to climb up quite a bit to get anywhere. It is definitely not accessible with wheelchairs or baby carriages.

After a few minutes of walking up and enjoying the surrounding flowers, including their pleasant smell, you will reach the top of the mountain ridge, which overlooks all sides of the field, as well as the nearby Nushima Island. The whole area is just great for taking nice photos, so if you are a fan of nature photography, you really should visit this spot! I would definitely recommend going on a sunny day though, because it can get really windy up the hill. Also, if you were really impressed with the flowers, you can actually buy some potted daffodils in the shop located next to the parking lot as a souvenir. If you are planning a visit to Nadakuroiwa, make sure to come in the right season. The flowers bloom from the end of December until the end of February, so January is your best bet to enjoy the view. Awaji Island’s weather is quite pleasant in winter, and it rarely snows, so if you want to escape snowy regions of Japan and get some sunlight and see pretty flowers, Awaji is a nice option in the Kansai region.

Getting there

The park is best accessed by a car, being about 30-minute drive from Minami Awaji City, or 45 minutes from Sumoto City. During the blossom season, there is also a shuttle bus service going from Fukura Michi no Eki in Minami Awaji City – but the buses only leave once an hour, and take about 30 minutes to arrive.

One way ticket is ¥800, or you can buy return ticket which includes the entrance fee for Narcissus field for ¥2000.



By Kryštof Kohout