Yatsugatake Agricultural College (location: Hara Village and Chino City, Nagano Prefecture; Chairman: Soichiro Minami) is holding a "Flower Field Hot Air Balloon Experience" on September 22 (Tue, holiday) and September 23 (Wed, holiday), 2026, set against YATZ GARDEN, the college's expansive flower field. Advance reservations are being accepted now.
The event lets guests board a hot air balloon right beside the 10-hectare flower field and take in a 360-degree view of the Yatsugatake mountain range and the flowers in full bloom from above. Riders can enjoy the cool, clear air of early morning along with a sense of floating and an extraordinary view. At YATZ GARDEN, the main flower areas — including a salvia field and the striped flower field "COLORS" — are currently in bloom. Along with the popular "scenic swing" photo spot and the college's signature soft-serve ice cream, this two-day-only view from the sky offers a special way to mark Japan's five-day Silver Week holiday.
Flower Field Hot Air Balloon Experience: Overview
Guests board the hot air balloon right beside the flower field for a special ascent from ground level into the sky. Amid the pleasant early-morning breeze and cool air, riders can take in a sweeping panorama of colorful flowers below and the majestic mountains beyond.
- Dates: September 22 (Tue, holiday) and September 23 (Wed, holiday), 2026
- Time: 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM each day (gates open around 6:00 AM)
- Organizer: Setouchi Balloon Service Co., Ltd.
- Age: Open to all ages, including infants (babies may ride while being held)
- Duration: About 20 minutes total (flight time is about 5 minutes)
- Price: ¥4,000 per person, tax included
- Meeting point: YATZ GARDEN flower field at Yatsugatake Agricultural College (location map)
- Access note: No public transportation runs this early in the morning; a private car is recommended
- Availability and reservations: via the booking page
- More details: see the "Flower Field Hot Air Balloon" listing on this page
Things to Know Before You Go
- Same-day registration is accepted, but advance reservations are recommended since reserved guests are given priority.
- Weather cancellations and refunds: The flight may be canceled or cut short in cases of rain, storms, muddy conditions, or strong wind. Guests who are unable to fly due to a cancellation or interruption will receive a full refund.
- Day-of updates: If the flight is canceled for the day, an announcement will be posted by 6:00 AM on the college's official Instagram — please check there.
- Other notes: Pets cannot ride. Staff safety instructions must be followed, and participation may be declined otherwise. Media coverage or photography for records and social media may take place on some days.
Current Conditions at YATZ GARDEN
The peak bloom in the main flower areas has passed, but staff and trainees continue to tend the fields daily to welcome visitors.
- Salvia (220,000 plants), "Yatsugatake Red Carpet": red (110,000 plants) and white (110,000 plants)
- "COLORS" (55,000 plants): a variety of flowers blooming in stripes
For the latest updates on closures due to bad weather, check the story highlights on the college's official Instagram or its Google Maps business hours listing. The garden may also close temporarily during opening hours due to sudden bad weather.
The Popular Scenic Swing
A wooden swing set within the "Salvia (red)" area, which offers the best views of the Yatsugatake mountains, has become a popular spot on social media for the immersive feeling of being wrapped in a sea of red and the sweeping view of the Yatsugatake mountain range.
YATZ GARDEN Hours and Access
- Open: July 3 (Fri), 2026, through mid-October (planned); the garden may close temporarily during business hours in the event of sudden bad weather
- Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (from September 14); the kitchen truck operates 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Admission: Free
- Parking: 600 spaces, free
- Access: By car — about 15 minutes from Suwa-Minami IC or about 30 minutes from Kobuchizawa IC on the Chuo Expressway (park at the Yatsugatake Farm store, then it's about a 4–5 minute drive to the flower field, marked by a white sign). By train — about 20 minutes by taxi from JR Chuo Main Line's Chino Station, or about 30 minutes by bus to the "Yatsugatake Central Agricultural Practice College" stop (a sightseeing bus connecting Chino Station with the farm store and flower field also runs on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays through October 12; check the official website for details)
- More information: https://yatsunou.jp/garden/
- Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yatsunou.since1938/
A Full Day at the Wider Campus
Beyond the flower field, the college's 267-hectare campus (about the size of 57 Tokyo Domes) also offers food and hands-on programs.
- Farm store food and souvenirs: Open year-round, the farm store sells the college's own food and souvenirs, including "fresh milk cookies" made with 100% fresh milk and a "premium bacon rice bowl" made with bacon smoked for about ten times longer than usual.
- Farm area, home to animals living at ease: Visitors can see animals raised daily by the college's trainees, including cattle and goats roaming the spacious grounds.
- A tour that takes in the whole farm through all five senses: Compiled from visitor requests, this campus tour covers the college's highlights, including a look at the chicken coop and cattle barn. (See the "Farm Tour" listing on this page for details.)
Who Runs the Balloon Experience
The Flower Field Hot Air Balloon Experience is planned, operated, and managed entirely by its organizer, Setouchi Balloon Service Co., Ltd. Yatsugatake Agricultural College provides only the venue and the reservation system and is not otherwise involved in the event's planning, operation, or safety management.
