Hokuto City Akeno Sunflower Festival 2026: 400,000 Sunflowers and Panoramic Views

Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture (Mayor: Kunihiko Oshiba) and the Hokuto City Akeno Sunflower Festival Executive Committee (Chairman: Toshikazu Akiyama) will host the 'Hokuto City Akeno Sunflower Festival 2026' in Akeno-cho, Hokuto City, from Saturday, July 18, to Sunday, August 16, 2026. The event features approximately 400,000 sunflowers blooming against a panoramic backdrop of Mt. Yatsugatake, the Southern Alps, and Mt. Fuji.

Visitors can stroll through the expansive 4-hectare sunflower field and enjoy local products at the 'Sunflower Marche.' The 'Hokuto SunFes Photo Contest 2026' will also be held, soliciting photos taken on-site and shared via Instagram.

Additionally, the festival is recruiting 'SunFes Supporters' to help manage the fields. For the first time, the 'Sunflower Light-up,' previously limited to supporters, will be open to the general public on Friday, August 14, 2026. The illuminated fields under the starry night sky offer a unique atmosphere, complemented by local fireworks often scheduled for the same evening.

Event Overview

Period: July 18 (Sat) – August 16 (Sun), 2026 Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 Venues: Main Venue (5664 Asao, Akeno-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi, etc.), Farm Park Venue (13811 Kamite, Akeno-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi, etc.) Admission: Free Sunflower Contribution: 1,000 yen per car, 500 yen per motorcycle (bicycles free), 5,000 yen per bus Content: Sunflower Marche, Photo Contest, SunFes Supporter program Details: https://hokutosunfes.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/h.sunfes/

Photo Contest

Submit photos via Instagram during the event. Winners receive gourmet sets featuring local Hokuto products, and winning entries may be featured on next year’s promotional materials.

Contest Period: July 18 – August 16, 2026 Eligibility: Anyone with an Instagram account Method: Follow @hokuto_yamanashi, tag the account in the photo, and use hashtags #ほくとサンフェスフォトコンテスト2026 and #北杜市 Awards: Grand Prize (1 winner): 10,000 yen in gourmet sets; Special Prize (3): 5,000 yen; Selected (5): 3,000 yen.