Spring is always the best time to visit Japan to admire the famous cherry blossoms. But did you know that even after the cherry season has passed, another bloom is waiting for you to see its enchanting glory? When in Japan, don’t miss the coming of wisteria season! It’s when lavender-colored flowers turn into stunning tunnels made of thousands of blooms.
Wisteria blooms around late April to May, and there are several places where you can get romantic sceneries of these blooms. Here are some of the wisteria spots you can visit in Japan!
Ashikaga Flower Park
Known to be the biggest wisteria garden in Japan, Ashikaga Flower Park is the prime spot to view the dreamy wisteria blooms. During spring, a month-long Great Wisteria Festival is held when the wisterias, azaleas, and peonies are in full bloom, blanketing the whole park with breathtaking hues of pink and purple. It’s also home to the 160-year-old Great Wisteria, which is truly a sight to behold! At night, the trees are illuminated giving a romantic glow across the whole flower park.
Location: 607 Hasamachō, Ashikaga, Tochigi, Japan
Website: https://www.ashikaga.co.jp/
Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden
In Kitakyushu, there’s a private garden called Kawachi Wisteria Garden that attracts many people when the season of wisteria comes. It’s best known for its two 100-meter-long tunnels that are decorated with draping wisterias of different colors. It’s a perfect destination for romantic strolls and a great place for photo walks!
Location: 2 Chome-2-48 Kawachi, Yahatahigashi Ward, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan
Website: https://kawachi-fujien.com/
Kajimoto Wisteria Garden
There’s also a Wisteria spot in Osaka, Japan that you should see. It’s not as huge as the other wisteria gardens in Fukuoka and Tochigi, but it’s worth seeing if you’re around the area. Previously an inn, it’s no longer in business but still opens for the public to see its Wisteria garden every spring. The Kajimoto family maintains the garden, with about 40,000 blooming flowers during the spring season.
Location: 1338 Makino, Shindachi, Sennan City, Japan
Kameido Tenjin Shrine
Kameido Tenjin Shrine is dedicated to Sugawara-no-Michizane, known as the god of scholarship. People come here to wish for guidance in their upcoming examinations, but also, to admire the wisteria blooms come spring. It got its nickname, flower shrine, due to the beautiful purple flowers that appear from mid-April to mid-May. During Wisteria Festival, tourists can enjoy delicious snacks and stunning views.
Location: 3-chōme-6-1 Kameido, Koto City, Tokyo, Japan
Mandaraji Temple
More than 60 varieties of wisteria adorn Mandaraji Park in Konan City, Aichi Prefecture. Existing since the 14th century, the temple is not only a place of worship for the people. It’s also a place where people come to see wisterias in bloom. Don’t miss the Konan Wisteria Festival when hanging wisterias and peonies are in full bloom!
Location: Teramachi-202 Maehibocho, Konan, Aichi, Japan
Tennogawa Park
This public park is loved for its eight picturesque scenes along every change of season. During Golden Week, you’ll find a few cherry blossoms and wisteria in full bloom around the park. The park has about 115 wisteria trees, composed of 12 different varieties. Wisterias hang over the oval-shaped pond that creates a picture-perfect landscape in the whole park. Tennogawa Park holds its own Wisteria Festival too. It’s an event where people can watch performances and hang out with friends while strolling at the park.
Location: 1 Chome Rurikoji Cho, Tsushima, Aichi 496-0856, Japan
Sera Wisteria Garden
Explore the vast Sera Wisteria Gardens when you visit Hiroshima Prefecture, and see about 1,200 charming wisteria trees blossoming all at the same time! It has 12 key areas where you can see wisterias of different varieties. Aside from the alluring sights, you’ll also love the fragrance the flowers emit, which will make your stroll more romantic and pleasing. It’s also the spot where you can see unique standing wisterias!
Location: 478-82 Yasuda, Sera Town, Sera County, Hiroshima Prefecture
Byakugou-ji Temple
In Hyogo, lies an old Buddhist temple that’s been around since the 10th century. It’s quiet and peaceful here, where people go to reflect and have a moment of solitude. It’s an off-the-beaten path but it’s worth a visit, especially during autumn and spring. During the spring, wisteria in full bloom dominates the scenic bridge and the garden making the temple even more beautiful.
Location: Byakugou-ji, Ichijima-cho, Tanba-shi, Hyogo, Japan
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