Nanko Sunflower Field

 

 

July through August is sunflower season! We found a sunflower field closer to us to visit. Most of the time these fields are deeper in the mountains, where public transportation isn't as convenient to use. Luckily, during peak season some of these flowers fields tend to offer free shuttle rides from the nearest train station to the the flower field. We were able to take a train from Himeji Station on the Kishin Line to Harima-Tokusa Station. That station does not use ICOCA (the preloaded transportation card we usually use), so you'll have to buy a ticket to pay for your fare instead of tapping in/out with the ICOCA.

 

It was hot, but they had a mist station where anyone could walk through to cool off a bit. The sunflowers were beautiful and there was an area with stalls that sold various sunflower products. I, of course, had to buy a sunflower to take back. They also had a sunflower maze, which I wasn't expecting to see, but it was fun to go through with friends. When we entered they even gave us sunflower seeds to take home and, on our way back, they gave us a cute train keychain souvenir!