The end of cherry blossom season is certainly not the end of flower festivals in Japan! Every year, following the cherry blossoms, lush purple wisteria flowers arrive in Japan, blooming from April to May. The beautiful purple flowers are called fuji (ふじ, 藤) in Japanese. Here are the Top 10 wisteria-viewing spots in Japan!
1. Kameido Tenjin Shrine in Tokyo (亀戸天神社)
Photo: nihon-bunka01.com
Best time: Mid-April to Mid-May
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/YAk2oKhpkfMTp6Ky7
Kameido Tenjin Fuji Festival Website
2. Kawachi Fuji Garden in Kitakyushu (河内藤園)
Photo: www.crossroadfukuoka.jp
Best time: Late April – Early May
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/jeqpMLuDba6xpEEV8
Kawachi Fuji Garden English Website
3. Byakugō-ji Temple in Tamba, Hyogo (白毫寺)
Photo: www.byakugouji.jp
Built in 705, Byakugou-ji is a historic Buddhist temple located in Tamba City, Hyogo Prefecture. The wisteria here blooms in very long clusters that almost reach down to the ground. The beautiful hanging flowers can be found all around the temple grounds. A unique wisteria festival is held here every year near mid-May, featuring local goods and even mochi-pounding. We visited last year and did a Facebook live!
Best time: Late April – Mid May
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/wBKySzDbdzSYSPxw9
4. Ashikaga Flower Park, Tochigi Prefecture (あしかがフラワーパーク)
Photo: https://tour.vipliner.biz/flower/ashikaga/
This flower park in Tochigi Prefecture was among the top ten international travel destinations selected by CNN in 2014. The wisteria here are more than 150 years old, and there are close to 200 wisteria trees in the park grounds. The wisteria comes in all varieties and colors, including pink, purple, white and yellow. One of the popular attractions of Ashikaga Flower Park is the 80-meter long white wisteria tunnel. During the peak blooming season and wisteria festival period, there is also a light-up at night until 9pm.
Best time: Mid-April to Mid-May
Access: https://goo.gl/maps/hkNmZqQNCqLNs1i78
Ashikaga Flower Park Grand Wisteria Festival Website
5. Tennogawa Park, Aichi Prefecture (天王川公園)
Photo: https://tour.club-t.com/
Tennogawa Park is located around Maruike pond, a collection of water that remains from the Tenno River in Aichi Prefecture. This is an especially photogenic location, as when the wisteria bloom all around the park, the purple hanging flowers are reflected on the surface of the water. Every year from late April to early May, the Owari Tsushima Wisteria Festival is held here. During the festival period, there is food, games, and entertainment throughout Tennogawa Park.
Best time: Late April – Early May
Access: https://goo.gl/maps/LzPaBBU6e38BSubA7
Tennogawa Park English Website
6. Mandaraji Temple, Aichi Prefecture (曼陀羅寺)
Photo: Konan City
Every year, Mandaraji Temple and its park host Konan City’s Wisteria Festival from the middle of April to the beginning of May. There are a number of traditional events held during the festival, but most people come to see the beautiful wisteria in full bloom. There are about 60 wisteria trees draped on wisteria pergolas which are set up throughout the park. There is a variety of colors on the display, ranging from purple to red, and even white.
Best time: Late April to Early May
Access: https://goo.gl/maps/DW6FNqdrAMkJSuux6
Mandaraji Temple English Festival Website
7. Shindachijuku Wisteria Garden in Sennan City, Osaka (信達宿の野田藤 梶本様宅)
Photo: Sennan City
8. Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara (春日大社)
Photo: http://www.tree-flower.jp/
Best time: Mid-April to mid-May
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/XPckuJa3omsmyU9P6
9. Shirai Omachi Fuji Park in Hyogo (白井大町藤公園)
Shirai Omachi Fuji Park is one of the most well-known wisteria parks in western Japan. The park is a vast area of 7,000 square meters that is home to wisteria with a total length of 500 meters. One of the wisteria plants in particular has a very long clusters which are up to 1 meter 45cm in length. The wisteria here blooms every Spring from late April to mid-May, and during the wisteria’s blooming season, special products are also on sale in the park grounds.
Best time: Early to Mid-May
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/7JwSog8HScJKrruQ8
Shirai Omachi Fuji Park English Website
10. Byōdō-in Temple in Uji, Kyoto (平等院)
Photo: Kyoto Moyou
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