Every autumn, a soft green plant in my garden turns into a round ball of deep red. It is called kochia (コキア), and it is one of the most beautiful sights of the season for me.
From my garden
A friend of mine grew these kochia from seed and planted them in my garden, Mon Papillon. They were green and fresh in the warm months, and now, in autumn, they have turned a bright, glowing red. When the light touches the thin branches, the whole plant looks as if it is softly burning.
What is kochia?
Kochia is also called hokigusa (ほうきぐさ), which means “broom grass.” The thin branches were once dried and made into brooms, and the round, fluffy shape still looks a little like one. In summer it is a fresh green. In autumn it slowly changes to red, and each plant becomes a gentle ball of color. Its tiny seeds are eaten in some parts of Japan, too, and are known as tonburi.
If you would like to see more: Ibaraki
If you would like to see kochia on a much larger scale, Hitachi Seaside Park (国営ひたち海浜公園) in Ibaraki Prefecture is famous for it. About 40,000 kochia plants grow on Miharashi Hill, the same hill that is covered in blue nemophila flowers in spring. In 2026, a “Kochia Carnival” is held from September 18 to November 3. The best time for the red color is usually around mid-October, and the colors move to a mix of red and brown toward the end of the month. Opening hours, fees, and the colors change from year to year, so please check the official website before you go.
The park is in Hitachinaka, and it can be reached from Tokyo by train and bus. I am only introducing it here as a gentle guide. For me, my own little garden is enough to enjoy the red of autumn.
In spring (usually late April to early May), the same hill turns sky blue with millions of nemophila flowers, which is just as beautiful. You can find the latest information on the official Hitachi Seaside Park website.
If you would rather not worry about trains and buses, a day tour from Tokyo is an easy way to go: Hitachi Seaside Park day tour from Tokyo on Klook (affiliate link). It also visits Oarai Isosaki Shrine, with its torii gate standing in the sea.
I also shared this autumn scene on Pinterest.
What color does autumn have where you live?
