Spring flowers in Japan: iceland poppies

Right now in the Greater Tokyo area of Japan (May 2025) it is poppy season. However, before the regular poppies grow, there is a type of poppy that blooms earlier. It is known as the Iceland or Icelandic poppy. And like regular poppies is in the Papaveraceae family, or Poppy family. 

Iceland poppies usually come in pale colors; in shades of white, yellow and orange. A large field of them creates an idyllic spring scene. They have large, cup shaped blooms, much like the red poppies which are more common. Iceland poppies have a texture like crepe paper. 

In the Greater Tokyo area, one of the best places to see Iceland poppies as Musashi Kyuryo National Government park, which is called Shinrin park colloquially. Most years they have a display in April. However, every now and then they do change the annual flower displays, to keep things interesting! 

They typically bloom for the full month of April. But this year they actually bloomed for longer than normal and were still in bloom for the second half of Golden Week. In other words, they were still in bloom the first few days of May. That is the exception, not the rule.

Have you seen a large display of Iceland Poppies? Any you would recommend visiting in Japan?