First of all: this is not a place teeming with breathtaking flowers with a lot of Insta- worthy spots. The park is not as popular is Echigo Park, and thus is WAY less crowded. It's a place you can go to in order to find some peace and quiet. The walking area is pretty large and there are 2 hills that offer a wonderful view of Nagaoka and the mountains beyond. There is also an observation platform. In mid- April, the place was filled with timid, tiny mountain flowers. It was around a week before the cherry blossoms bloomed. The leaflets and all information tends to be in Japanese, with only titles in English. The entrance fee is 400 yen per adult. Take comfortable walking shoes.

I went there because Mandu-saka is the best time to see it. This botanical garden preserves the woodlands of the snow country, and they plant only local vegetation such as exotic and garden plants. Although it is quite large, Mandusha Hua is located in the waterside area on the left from the east entrance (main entrance). There are handmade signs so you can get there without hesitation. It was blooming all over the slope at the back of the water. Further up the slope, there was a plaza full of Mandusha flowers. I didn't have enough time to go around once, but since I came here, I took a walk in the eastern forest area. There are no unusual flowers, but they are soothing as a forest bath.