ABASHIRI, Hokkaido -- About 2.6 million sunflowers are in full bloom at Omagari Lakeside Park, a tourist farm in Abashiri, Hokkaido.

The sunflowers are a small variety, about 1 meter tall. They are planted in the 14-hectare park to bloom in time for a marathon normally held at the end of September, to brightly greet runners at the finish line.

The event has been canceled for two consecutive years due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. The flowers will be at their best until around Oct. 10, and each visitor can take home a few of the sunflowers for free. After their season is over, the sunflowers will be plowed into the ground as fertilizer.

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