{"id":461,"date":"2025-10-24T17:35:23","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T08:35:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/?post_type=article&p=461"},"modified":"2026-01-29T10:29:36","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T01:29:36","slug":"recommended-spots-for-cosmos-in-kyoto-flowers-that-vividly-color-the-autumn-countryside","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/articles\/recommended-spots-for-cosmos-in-kyoto-flowers-that-vividly-color-the-autumn-countryside\/","title":{"rendered":"Recommended Spots for \u201cCosmos\u201d in Kyoto!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From late September to early November, cosmos flowers color Japan.
From the katakana name \u201ccosmos,\u201d everyone knows they are an introduced species, yet few flowers have become as rooted in Kyoto\u2019s scenery as cosmos.
Even in Kyoto, you often see cosmos planted in fallow rice paddies on the outskirts. The sight of an entire field of cosmos spreading out with Kyoto\u2019s beautiful rural landscape as the backdrop is magnificent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Are \u201cCosmos\u201d?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A collective term for the genus Cosmos<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cosmos is a collective term for plants of the genus Cosmos<\/em> in the family Asteraceae.
In the narrow sense, \u201ccosmos\u201d refers to \u014charushagiku, but in general it also includes yellow cosmos, chocolate cosmos, and their hybrids.
Cosmos were introduced to Japan after the Meiji era and are a relatively new flower in Japan.
Today they are a familiar sight, growing widely in fields and along roadsides.
They are especially planted in fallow rice paddies as \u201ccosmos gardens\u201d for tourism, not only in Kyoto but throughout the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cosmos, Native to Mexico<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The name \u201ccosmos\u201d comes from a Greek word meaning \u201charmony\u201d or \u201corder.\u201d
This is because the flower is characterized by its eight petals arranged in a regular pattern.
Cosmos are native to Mexico, and it is said that they were named when Columbus brought them to Europe.
Incidentally, the word \u201ccosmos,\u201d from the idea of harmony and order, has also come to mean \u201cthe universe.\u201d
In other words, the \u201cCosmo\u201d in Saint Seiya<\/em> and \u201ccosmos\u201d share the same etymology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the drugstore chain Cosmos Yakuhin<\/strong>, its name comes from the idea that \u201clike the cosmos flower, which puts down firm roots even in wasteland and blooms beautifully.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Many Varieties of Cosmos<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cosmos come in many cultivars, but in terms of species they are generally divided into three: \u014charushagiku, yellow cosmos, and chocolate cosmos.
\u014charushagiku is what is generally referred to as \u201ccosmos.\u201d It comes in a wide range of colors such as pink, white, and red, and in recent years yellow variety have also been developed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Yellow cosmos bears orange and yellow flowers. Like \u201d\u30aa\u30aa\u30cf\u30eb\u30b7\u30e3\u30ae\u30af\u201d, it is native to Mexico, but it is distributed in regions at somewhat lower elevations. Because its flowering period is slightly earlier than that of \u201d\u30aa\u30aa\u30cf\u30eb\u30b7\u30e3\u30ae\u30af\u201d and it has stronger heat tolerance, naturalized plants are more frequently seen than \u201d\u30aa\u30aa\u30cf\u30eb\u30b7\u30e3\u30ae\u30af\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chocolate cosmos was introduced to Japan somewhat later than \u201d\u30aa\u30aa\u30cf\u30eb\u30b7\u30e3\u30ae\u30af\u201d and yellow cosmos. Not only are the flowers chocolate-colored, but their fragrance is also reminiscent of chocolate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to cultivar improvements, more cosmos now bloom from summer, and these days we even have to go out of our way to call the traditional varieties \u201cautumn-blooming cosmos\u201d or \u201clate-blooming cosmos.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sense of the seasons is disappearing from many things, and it is truly sad that even in the world of flowers we are losing sight of what is \u201cin season.\u201d Will the Japanese name \u201c\u79cb\u685c\u201d too, before long, enter a time when it is treated as an archaic term?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Seeing cosmos\u2014white, crimson, and the like\u2014tossed by the wind and blooming in profusion so perfectly suits the Japanese aesthetic sensibility and Japan\u2019s natural climate that one might say there is hardly anyone who would not feel \u201cautumn\u201d at the sight; there seems to be no other plant so deeply fused with the sense of the seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cosmos have the trait of forming flower buds as autumn comes and the hours of daylight grow shorter (a short-day habit), but in recent years, through breeding, varieties that bloom regardless of day length have begun to appear. If such cultivars are sown in spring, they flower from early summer; if sown in summer, they bloom in autumn as before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Places in Kyoto to Enjoy Cosmos<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kameoka Yume Cosmos Garden (Kameoka City)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Highlights<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When you think of Kameoka in autumn, the red spider lilies and the fall foliage are beautiful too, but the most famous are surely the cosmos.
Kameoka Yume Cosmos Garden boasts one of the largest scales in Kansai, with 8 million cosmos across 20 varieties. It is, of course, the largest cosmos garden in Kyoto.
About 4.2 hectares of fallow fields spread east of Kameoka Sports Park are carpeted with cosmos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because it lies in the pleasantly sized Kameoka Basin, no matter which direction you view the cosmos from, the verdant mountains provide a backdrop.
Cosmos of many varieties\u2014red, pink, orange, yellow, and white\u2014bloom in profusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Across the basin from Kameoka Yume Cosmos Garden rises Mt. Ushimatsu, 636 meters above sea level.
Known as the \u201cTamba Fuji,\u201d Mt. Ushimatsu is one of Kameoka\u2019s iconic peaks.
At its foot stands Atago Shrine, said to be the original Atago; there is even a theory that the name \u201cMt. Atago\u201d originally referred to Mt. Ushimatsu.
It is said that as the center of Atago worship shifted from Kameoka to Kyoto, the name \u201cMt. Atago\u201d likewise moved from Mt. Ushimatsu to the mountain now called Mt. Atago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Creative Scarecrow Contest \u2014 a Signature Attraction<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside the cosmos garden, an exhibition of ingeniously crafted \u201ccreative scarecrows\u201d is one of Kameoka Yume Cosmos Garden\u2019s hallmark events. A \u201cCreative Scarecrow Contest\u201d is held, with the rankings determined by visitors\u2019 votes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In 2020, a new \u201ccreative scarecrow\u201d modeled on Ken Shimura\u2019s Bakatono-sama (\u201cThe Foolish Lord\u201d) was on display.
It might not have been a perfect likeness, but it was an adorable scarecrow.
Many of the creative scarecrows take their themes from that year\u2019s current events, and looking back at them later brings the memories of that year rushing back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Inside the garden you\u2019ll find the Tanba Ajiwai Market, where you can enjoy foods made with local ingredients from Kyoto-Tanba. In 2025 as well, the stalls will be lined with everything from black soybean sweets, local vegetables, and matsutake rice to classics like yakisoba, hot dogs, frankfurters, and pork miso soup.
Please note that the Tanba Ajiwai Market closes a little earlier than the cosmos garden\u2014at 4:00 p.m. ( 4:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The best time to see them is from early to late October.
With as many as 20 varieties, there are plenty of early- and late-blooming types, so somewhere in the garden you can always enjoy cosmos in full bloom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission has been raised in stages since 2020, and from 2024 the fee is \u00a51,000 on weekends and holidays and \u00a5800 on weekdays.
Meanwhile, elementary and junior high school students, who previously had to pay, are now admitted free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of Kameoka in 2020, it was the setting for the Taiga drama \u201cKirin ga Kuru.\u201d
It presented a portrayal of Akechi Mitsuhide that was markedly different from what had come before, and I looked forward to Sundays every week.
I would love to see another Taiga drama with Akechi Mitsuhide as the lead; next time, I hope Kameoka is depicted in ample depth as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Just when the cosmos are reaching full bloom at the Kameoka Yume Cosmos Garden, the Kameoka Festival\u2014the annual festival of Kuwayama Shrine\u2014is held in Kameoka\u2019s old Kameyama castle town.
Festivities include Yoiyoiyama on October 23, Yoimiya on October 24, and the main festival on October 25, during which a yamahoko float procession takes place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The eleven yamahoko floats are each adorned with beautiful decorations, and their splendor fully lives up to the festival\u2019s nickname, the \u201cGion Festival of Kuchi-Tanba.\u201d
Because the cosmos typically peak around the same time each year, I recommend that anyone coming for the Kameoka Festival also visit the Kameoka Yume Cosmos Garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Kameoka Yume Cosmos Garden<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its official name is \u201cKyoto Tanba \/ Kameoka Yume Cosmos Garden.\u201d
The garden opened in 2000 for the purpose of regional revitalization, created by local farmers\u2019 cooperatives and merchants\u2019 associations by making use of fallow rice fields. At the beginning, it was on the scale of about five million cosmos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In its early years the cosmos garden was smaller than it is now, but it gradually expanded in scale and has grown into a hallmark autumn attraction of Kameoka, drawing more than 40,000 visitors annually. In particular, after the section of the Kyoto-Jukan Expressway between Kutsukake IC and Oyamazaki JCT opened in 2013, the garden has thrived with many visitors, taking advantage of its location just off Kameoka IC on the expressway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the Kameoka City Tourism Association (a general incorporated association) serving as the secretariat, the resident-led Yume Cosmos Garden Project Executive Committee received the Encouragement Prize of the Kameoka City Lifelong Learning Awards in 2015. In 2021, its 22nd year since opening, the cumulative number of visitors reached 700,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By the way, Kameoka City\u2019s official city flower is the azalea. Given that Kameoka is now so strongly associated with cosmos, this may come as a surprise. The city flower was designated in 1965. Since the Kameoka Yume Cosmos Garden opened in 2000, the designation predates the time when cosmos became part of Kameoka\u2019s image. If the choice were made today, cosmos (or perhaps bellflower) might be selected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sagano (Ukyo Ward)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Highlights<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sagano area spreading between Hirosawa Pond and Osawa Pond is designated under multiple protections: a Scenic District, a Special Scenic Landscape Area, and a Historic Landscape Preservation District. Thanks to Kyoto City\u2019s strict regulations, the nostalgic rural landscape of old Japan survives here almost uniquely intact. With fields where the rice has been harvested and the straw is laid out to dry in the sun as a backdrop, you can admire beautiful views of cosmos blooming in a rainbow of colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cosmos begin to bloom around the time red spider lilies are at their peak, and they shed their petals when the autumn colors in Kyoto\u2019s Arashiyama area reach their best.
The prime viewing period is roughly from mid-October to mid-November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About Sagano<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a broad sense, Sagano<\/em> refers to the area of Kyoto lying west of Uzumasa and north of the Katsura (\u014ci) River, but here it is used in its narrowest sense: the district bounded by Hirosawa Pond, Osawa Pond, and Ichij\u014d-d\u014dri.
Since the Heian period, the wider Sagano area has been cherished as a place of scenic beauty and as a villa district for Kyoto\u2019s aristocracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Above all, Sagano preserves one of the most beautiful rural landscapes in the Kyoto environs.
You can enjoy a pleasant walk amid the tranquil atmosphere of farmers at work in the fields.
I\u2019m grateful to the farmers who protect this countryside, preserved almost miraculously.
Another delight is the freshly picked local Kyoto vegetables sold at unmanned roadside stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Sagano area as a whole once had poor access to water.
Even the famed Osawa and Hirosawa Ponds, known for their scenic beauty, were used as irrigation reservoirs.
In 1951, after heavy rains, the Kank\u014dji-dani Reservoir, which had been built in the mountains, burst and caused extensive damage across the Sagano area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In 1952, the Sagano Irrigation Canal project was launched to bring water to Sagano by driving a tunnel from the Kiyotaki River on the mountain\u2019s north side. With the canal\u2019s completion in 1955, the farmers of Sagano\u2014long plagued by water shortages\u2014were finally freed from their hardship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ohara (Saky\u014d Ward)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In Ohara, a sightseeing spot known for its rural countryside near Kyoto, cosmos begin to bloom here and there in autumn\u2014between the fields and along the river embankments.
They don\u2019t appear in great masses as in a dedicated cosmos field, but rather blossom in scattered patches across the farmland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Amid fields where the harvest has been brought in, the cosmos stand out in especially vivid color.
Around late September, when they first begin to bloom, the red spider lilies also reach their peak, and Ohara is splendidly adorned with flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before the crowds of the autumn foliage season arrive, the village of Ohara is still quiet.
Why not take your time and enjoy the cosmos?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Just when the cosmos reach their peak, the Autumn \u014chara-me Festival is held from Monday, October 23 to Friday (holiday), November 3, 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The main event is the \u014chara-me Historical Procession, typically held on November 3 (national holiday) each year.
Women dressed as \u014chara-me<\/em> in costumes from the Muromachi, Edo, and Meiji\u2013Taish\u014d periods parade from Jakko-in to Jakko-in, making their way through fields where the cosmos are in full bloom.
However, the \u014chara-me Historical Procession was not held in 2023 or 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In closing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cosmos flowers blend seamlessly into Kyoto\u2019s autumn countryside. Because many of these fields make use of fallow rice paddies, they\u2019re often located in the suburbs of Kyoto and can be difficult to reach by public transportation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With MK\u2019s chartered sightseeing taxis, it\u2019s easy to access Kyoto\u2019s outlying areas where transport is limited. Why not experience a different kind of Kyoto trip with professionals in sightseeing and hospitality?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MK Travel Kyoto Sightseeing Taxi Tours \u2013 Autumn Flowers Route<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MK Travel operates Kyoto sightseeing taxi tours themed around \u201cAutumn Flower Viewing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":569,"template":"","article_category":[],"class_list":["post-461","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","en-US"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/461","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/article"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/569"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article_category?post=461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}