Hamura: Tulip Fields, Waterworks and Culture

A field through the changing seasons

Hamura has an unusual agricultural rhythm through the year: at the Negaramimae rice field, rice and tulips take turns being cultivated. From early summer through autumn, the field is used for rice cultivation; from autumn through spring, it is used for tulips. During tulip season, it is a tourist attraction. Visitors to Hamura can use this seasonal theme to plan their visit and consider which part of the growing calendar interests them most.

The tulip field at the Negaramimae rice field covers about 59,000 square metres and is home to around 350,000 tulip bulbs. The Tulip Festival is held at the rice field in April. The size of the area and the number of bulbs give tulip cultivation a clear sense of scale; the festival adds a specific event to the field’s months-long rotation of uses. For families who like to plan their trip around a seasonal theme, this contrast offers a tangible topic to discuss and explore: rice defines part of the year, and tulips the other part.

The Tamagawa Josui and its history of water engineering

The history of water engineering is another distinctive theme in Hamura. The Tamagawa Josui was built in 1653, running from what is now the city of Hamura to Yotsuya-Ōkido in Shinjuku. It was about 43 kilometres long. This scale shows that it was a waterworks system connecting the named places over a considerable distance. The Tamagawa Josui begins at the Hamura Intake Weir, which marks the starting point of the system.

The Hamura Intake Weir also has a specific engineering feature. During high water, the crosswise timbers known as Nagi can be removed. This is intended to prevent the weir from being washed away. The Nagi and their function make water engineering tangible: it is not only about the course of a system, but also about a component that helps preserve the weir during high water.

Discover nature, history and culture

The Hamura Folk Museum opened in April 1985. It serves as a place of learning that studies Hamura’s nature, landscape, history and culture, and shares its findings through exhibitions, study events and publications. Its thematic approach differs from the seasonal perspective on the rice field: here, several aspects of Hamura are presented side by side as subjects for study and interpretation. Hamura Matsuri Bayashi is also designated an intangible folk cultural property, adding a distinct connection to local tradition to these cultural points of interest.

A special time to visit

The First Water Tower stands on the grounds of the water department in Hamura. It is about 34 metres high and can be visited on the first day of each month, unless that day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday. Visitors can enjoy the view from the top. So, if you want to include a visit in your trip, the first of the month is the relevant date; remember to take the stated exceptions into account when planning. The water tower is another specific reason not to choose your travel dates based solely on the tulip field.

When looking for a holiday rental in Hamura, you could start by asking yourself which of these themes you want your trip to focus on: the rotation between rice and tulips, the history of the Tamagawa Josui, the perspectives offered by the museum, or a visit to the First Water Tower. This lets you choose your destination based on specific interests rather than a general idea of a holiday.

More destination pages

If you’d like to explore more destination pages, you’ll find Ōta, Higashiyamato, Ogasawara, Hachijo, Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Shibuya-ku and Meguro here.

For the main travel overview: Tokyo.