Umami Hills Prefectural Park is a large urban park extending across Koryo Town and Kawai Town in Kitakatsuragi District, Nara Prefecture. The park was developed to preserve and make accessible the Umami Kofun Group, an important collection of ancient burial mounds. The project began in 1984, and the park was fully opened in 2012.
The park is divided into four areas: the Greenway Area, North Area, Central Area, and South Area. Each has its own character, offering visitors opportunities to explore ancient tombs, admire seasonal flowers, enjoy nature walks, and relax with family and friends. Admission is free, making it an appealing destination throughout the year.
The Greenway Area features peaceful walking paths surrounded by trees and seasonal plants. Located next to Ikenobe Station on the Kintetsu Tawaramoto Line, it is also one of the park’s most convenient entry points.
Highlights include Nagomi-no-Michi, a tranquil walking path; the scenic viewpoint known as Nagame-no-Oka; and several bridges along the route. The changing scenery makes this area enjoyable in every season.
The North Area is especially popular with families. It features a large lawn, wooden playground equipment, and a sandpit, providing plenty of space for children to play and visitors to relax outdoors.
This area is also home to Umami Flower Garden and Irodori Square, where seasonal blooms create colorful displays throughout the year. Tulips brighten the landscape in spring, sunflowers flourish in summer, and cosmos flowers bring warm colors to autumn.
The Central Area forms the heart of Umami Hills Prefectural Park and contains important archaeological sites, including Nagareyama Kofun and Otomeyama Kofun. Visitors can combine a walk among the ancient burial mounds with a visit to the park’s rose garden, iris garden, hydrangea garden, and water lily pond.
The area also has an observation platform and the Park Museum, where video displays and exhibits introduce the region’s burial mounds and natural environment. These facilities help visitors understand the historical significance of the landscape around them.
The South Area is connected to the Central Area by a pedestrian bridge and also adjoins Chikurin Park, another popular recreational destination. Fox-zuka Kofun and Tadaoshi Pond are among its features.
With its quieter natural surroundings, this area is well suited to visitors seeking a peaceful walk away from the busier parts of the park.
The Umami Hills are home to one of the three major ancient burial-mound groups of the Yamato region, alongside the Saki Tatenami Kofun Group and the Yamato-Yanagimoto Kofun Group. More than 250 burial mounds are scattered across the area, reflecting the power and cultural achievements of ancient communities in the Nara Basin.
Several mounds are preserved within the park, including Ikegami Kofun, Otomeyama Kofun, and Nagareyama Kofun. Some have been designated historic sites, and their preservation allows visitors to appreciate the archaeological importance of this landscape while enjoying its greenery.
Umami Hills Prefectural Park is also one of Nara Prefecture’s best-known destinations for seasonal flowers. Tulips and cherry blossoms herald the arrival of spring, roses bloom in early summer, sunflowers brighten the summer months, and cosmos and dahlias add vivid color in autumn.
Two particularly popular annual events are the Umami Tulip Fair and the Umami Flower Festival. These seasonal celebrations attract visitors who come to enjoy the floral displays, take photographs, and spend time outdoors.
Nara Prefecture is Japan’s leading producer of dahlia bulbs. In the North Area, the park’s Dahlia Garden features approximately 1,000 plants representing around 120 varieties.
The collection includes impressive varieties such as Emory Paul, known for its large blooms, and the striking tree dahlia. The wide range of colors, shapes, and flower sizes makes the garden a highlight for flower enthusiasts.
The Central Area’s rose garden contains approximately 500 rose plants representing 26 varieties. The roses are at their best in spring and autumn, offering two main opportunities each year to enjoy their colors and fragrance.
In spring, approximately 100 varieties of tulips bloom across the North and Central Areas. Their bright colors transform the park into a vibrant floral landscape, making this one of the most popular times of year to visit.
Umami Hills Prefectural Park is also a popular destination for birdwatching. From autumn through winter, ducks and other migratory birds gather on the ponds and in the moats surrounding the ancient burial mounds, attracting bird enthusiasts from the surrounding region.
Spring brings opportunities to observe young birds, including Japanese tits, varied tits, Japanese pygmy woodpeckers, and long-tailed tits. In summer, the songs of narcissus flycatchers and blue-and-white flycatchers can be heard among the trees. Swallows also build nests in the park, allowing visitors to observe their nesting and the growth of their young.
The park’s northern Greenway entrance is approximately a two-minute walk from Ikenobe Station on the Kintetsu Tawaramoto Line. Visitors can also reach the park by bus from Goido Station on the Kintetsu Osaka Line.
Large parking areas are available near the different sections of the park, making access by car convenient as well. Since the park covers a wide area, visitors may wish to plan their route according to the gardens, archaeological sites, and facilities they most want to see.
The annual Umami Tulip Fair and Umami Flower Festival are among the park’s best-known events, celebrating the changing seasons through extensive floral displays. These events are particularly popular with families, garden lovers, and photography enthusiasts.
Whether you come to explore ancient burial mounds, photograph colorful flowers, watch birds, or enjoy a picnic on the lawn, Umami Hills Prefectural Park offers a relaxing way to experience both the natural beauty and archaeological heritage of Nara Prefecture.