Hot Air Balloon Experience Over a 10-Hectare Flower Field at Yatsugatake! Soar Above the Scenery on Limited Dates (July 20, 25, 26, 2026)

Yatsuno Agricultural University (Headquarters: Haru village, Suwa District, Nagano Prefecture / President: Soichiro Minami / hereinafter 'the school') is pleased to announce the limited-time 'Flower Field Balloon Experience,' offering panoramic aerial views over its expansive 'YATZ GARDEN (Yatts Garden)' flower field. The event will be held exclusively on three days: Monday, July 20, 2026 (a national holiday), Saturday, July 25, and Sunday, July 26. Advance reservations are currently being accepted.

This special experience program allows participants to board a hot air balloon from the school’s flower field, situated at an elevation of 1,300 meters, and enjoy a 360-degree view of vibrant flowers across 10 hectares and the majestic Yatsugatake mountain range from above.

Enjoy Breathtaking Scenery and a Floating Sensation in the Crisp Morning Air

The balloon flights will take place between 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., when upper-level winds are relatively calm. Experience the refreshing coolness and clarity of the early morning air while enjoying a comfortable floating sensation and unobstructed panoramic views. The event is open to all ages from 0 years and up, and infants can participate while being held. It’s a perfect summer memory-making experience for the whole family.

View from last July's event

Event Overview: 'Flower Field Balloon Experience'

・Dates: July 20 (Mon, Holiday), 25 (Sat), and 26 (Sun), 2026

・Time: 6:30–9:00 a.m. each day (Gates open around 6:00 a.m.)

・Organizer: Setouchi Balloon Service Co., Ltd.

・Age Requirement: 0 years and older (infants may participate while being held)

・Duration: Approximately 20 minutes (actual flight time about 5 minutes)

・Fee: 4,000 JPY (tax included) per person

・Meeting Point: Yatsuno Agricultural University Flower Field 'YATZ GARDEN (Yatts Garden)' (https://x.gd/kbF6Yo)

・Access Note: Public transportation is not available during the early morning hours. Please come by private vehicle.

・Availability and Reservation Page: https://www.asoview.com/channel/activities/ja/yatsunou-taiken/offices/3117/courses/27724/calendars

・Additional Details: Please check the 'Balloon Experience in the Flower Field' section on this page (https://www.asoview.com/channel/activities/ja/yatsunou-taiken/offices/3117/courses).

Important Notes and Requests for Participants

While same-day registration is available, advance reservations are recommended as priority is given to pre-registered guests.

Cancellation and Refund Due to Weather: The event may be canceled or suspended due to rain, severe weather, muddy conditions, or strong winds. In such cases, full refunds will be issued if participants are unable to board.

Same-Day Operation Notice: If the event is canceled on the day, an announcement will be made by 6:00 a.m. on the school’s official Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/yatsunou.since1938/). Please check for updates.

Other: Pets are not allowed on board. Participation may be declined if guests do not follow staff instructions for safety reasons. Media filming for documentation or SNS use may occur on the day of participation.

About the Venue 'YATZ GARDEN' (https://yatsunou.jp/garden/) (Current Bloom Status)

A vast flower field spanning approximately 10 hectares (admission is free). The region enjoys Japan’s top-tier long annual sunshine hours (Note 1) and a significant diurnal temperature variation of over 15°C, characteristic of high-altitude climates. It is about 8°C cooler than Tokyo (Note 2), creating a cool, refreshing environment where the harsh temperature swings enhance the natural vitality of flowers, producing vividly colored landscapes. This season, marking its second year, reopened on July 3, 2026, under a new name.

(Detailed release: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000011.000161075.html)

Last year's salvia and flower field

Last year's marigolds and soft serve ice cream, and 'COLORS' and salvia

Currently, the flowers in the garden are growing well. The yellow and orange 'marigolds' are now 60% in bloom (peak expected around late July, approximately 1.5 weeks after this press release on July 14). Additionally, 'COLORS,' where different varieties bloom in striped patterns row by row, and the red and white 'salvia' are currently 30% in bloom (peak expected in early August, approximately 3.5 weeks later), with further blooming expected throughout the summer.

※ For the latest information on bloom conditions, closures due to bad weather, etc., please check the school’s official SNS (Instagram).

At the center of the flower field, visitors can enjoy soft serve ice cream made with 100% fresh milk from the school’s dairy. Starting in August, sweet raw corn harvest experiences—comparable to melons in sweetness—will also begin, making it a full-day summer destination.

Access Information for 'YATZ GARDEN' (Yatts Garden)

・Access:

【By Car】Approximately 15 minutes from 'Suwa-Minami IC' on the Chuo Expressway / Approximately 30 minutes from 'Koumi IC' (After parking at 'Yatsugatake Farm Direct Sales Store,' it’s about 4–5 minutes by car to the flower field; look for the white signboard)

【By Train】Approximately 20 minutes by taxi from 'Karuizawa Station' on the JR Chuo Main Line, or approximately 30 minutes by bus to 'Yatsugatake Central Agricultural Practical University School Front' (Note: It takes about 30 minutes on foot from the bus stop to the flower field through the campus).

・Parking: 600 spaces (free)

・Admission Fee: Free

・Details: https://yatsunou.jp/garden/

<Disclaimer Regarding Flower Field Balloon>

The organization, operation, safety management, and implementation of this event are entirely the responsibility of the organizer, 'Setouchi Balloon Service Co., Ltd.' The school only provides the venue and reservation management system and is not involved in the planning, operation, or safety management of the event.

【About Yatsuno Agricultural University】 https://yatsunou.jp/

Vast Campus

Founded in 1938. Located at the foot of Yatsugatake at an elevation of 1,300 meters, the school operates on a vast 267-hectare campus (57 times the area of the Tokyo Dome), where trainees learn practical agriculture (including crop farming, horticulture, dairy farming, and poultry farming). It also provides agricultural experiential learning to nearly 10,000 elementary, junior high, and high school students annually. Popular programs are also offered to the general public. In 2025, it launched a 10-hectare flower field. The campus includes a direct sales store selling 100% fresh milk from the school, soft serve and ice cream made with that milk, milk cookies, eggs from free-range chickens, and highland vegetables and flowers grown by trainees. In April 2024, the management system was restructured under President Soichiro Minami, a current CEO of a listed IT company, and Principal Yuya Maruyama, focusing on technology- and science-based agriculture utilizing AI and sensing data for production management and decision-making. (For the latest information about the school, please check the official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yatsunou.since1938/)

(Note 1) Annual sunshine hours in Haru Village, Nagano Prefecture, where the school is located