Spring Flowers — mika ohata

Japan has some of the best seasonal flowers. As spring arrives, the sakura bloom, then comes a whole bunch of other festivals like Azalea, Nemophila, Wisteria, etc. The list goes on and on! The Japanese are obsessed with the idea of fleeting beauty which is why they create festivals centered around the short blooming periods of each flower. As one flower season ends, another seems to begin! Since I’ve been living in Tokyo for nearly a year now, these have been some of my favorite flower adventures so far.

1. Kawazu Sakura

Season: early feb ~ early march

If you’re looking for picturesque bright pink sakura, make a trip to Tokyo in late february or early march to see the Kawazu Sakura festival! There are tons of festival stands and sakura flavored goodies to feast on.

2. Sakura

Season (Tokyo): Late March ~ First week of April

People flock to Japan to get a glimpse of the sakura. In Tokyo, you can hit many spots to view the beautiful flower! It’s of course best during full bloom, when you can enjoy “hanami” and picnic under the flowers while enjoying a nice homemade or conbini bought bento.

My top Tokyo sakura spots here: https://www.mikaohata.com/follow-my-life/2019/5/10/sakura

3. Nanohana

Season: mid/late feb ~ early/mid april

While not given as much praise as sakura, Nanohana is a flower that is a symbol of the start of spring season in Japan. They grow nearby sakura by the riverbeds. In Japanese cuisine, you can even see dishes with nanohana as its considered a vegetable as well! If you’re tired of seeing sakura, opt for some photos by the bright yellow nanohana instead.

Where to view: Kawazu, Hamarikyu Gardens, Imperial Palace/Chidorigafuchi Park

4. Peonies (?)

Season (Tokyo): Late April

After coming back from one of my trips, I made a trip down to Shinjuku Gyoen. Unfortunately all the sakura had died out, but there was a beautiful pink flower that resembled a peony in full bloom at the time. Shinjuku Gyoen is probably the prettiest gardens at all times of the year in Tokyo. As the seasons change, so does the gardens scenery. Its definitely worth a visit!

6. Azalea (Tsutsuji)

Season: April ~ May

After the sakura die out, Azaleas start to pop up around the city. Living in the city can get pretty dull at times, so it was a delight to see these bright flowers lining the walkway to work and nearby my house.

In May of last year, I was able to visit during the end of the azalea season at Odakyu Hotel de Yama. This year, I didn’t go to any festivals but saw many along the roads in Tokyo. If you’re looking for a festival, check out Nezu Shrine in Tokyo next azalea season!

7. Wisteria (Fuji)

Season: Mid April ~ Mid May

It’s been my dream to visit the Wisteria Tunnel in Kyushu for a while. Unfortunately its a bit far to travel from Tokyo, and will have to be visited another trip. If you’re in Tokyo, you can access some other great spots to view the flowers in May. The Wisteria or Fuji are in full bloom during Golden Week, during the first week of May. The most famous nearby Tokyo is Ashikaga Flower Park, which is best (and probably most crowded) during the wisteria season. Ashikaga is located in Tochigi Prefecture so its about a 1~2 hour drive from Tokyo.

I dragged my grandparents to go to the park with me, so we luckily rented a car and did a day trip to the area. Unfortunately we got there a little late and most wisteria were dying out. However, it was still a beautiful park to visit and I’m glad I had the time! The park has white, pink, purple, and yellow wisteria gardens scattered around the area. In addition, there was a rose garden in full bloom during the time we went, colorful nemophilia displays, and many other colorful flowers! Our favorite part was buying some plants to take home. I picked up a cactus, succulent, and air plant…hopefully they’ll last more than a month with me. On our way home we stopped by some local markets to get some fresh veggies and fruits! Of course, I had to get some strawberries to take home as the prefecture is known for some of the best strawberries in Japan.

The best time to go is during Golden week, but it will also be the most crowded. If you go early in the morning you can try to beat the crowds for sure!

8. Hydrangea (Ajisai)

Season: June

My grandma said that Ajisai is one of the most beautiful flowers that bloom in June. June is considered the rainy season in Japan, but the hydrangeas alone are a perfect reason to still visit. Hydrangeas are actually a native plant to Japan and come in many different colors and shapes. The muted but bold colors of the hydrangea are perfect for making an overcast day a bit brighter. The plant needs a lot of rain and moisture which is why it blooms so well in June every year!

While you can see the hydrangea in many places just walking around Tokyo, I recommend taking a trip to Kamakura. On your way, stop off at Ofuna Station to visit Ofuna Kannon-ji which is a temple that commemorates those who died in the atomic bombing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The statue is incredibly huge and worth a quick stop for sure.

From there, you can go around Kamakura to pop in the cute cafes and shops that line the main area. If it’s your first time, you must see the buddha at Kotoku-in. If you’re luckily enough to visit during hydrangea season, the top spots are Hase-dera, Meigetsu-in, and Joju-in. I only visited Hase-dera where they had a beautiful lookout of the ocean along with a hydrangea walking path. Each temple has its own entry fee, so be prepared to spend a bit on entrance and transportation!

If you’re planning to just stay in Tokyo, I recommend visiting Hakusan Shrine. They hold an ajisai festival in mid-june where the area is decorated with festival lanterns, food stalls, and yummy snacks! While it’s been a bit rainy these past few days, luckily, it was nice and sunny when we chose to go! Hakusan Shrine is located nearby Hakusan Station in Bunkyo ward. Although a bit small, the temple grounds are completely free to enter and there are ajisai flowers everywhere! We went early in the morning on a weekday, so there weren’t many stalls or vendors open, but it was nice to stroll around and enjoy the colorful flowers. The ajisai have become one of my favorite flowers after viewing them this year, and I’m so glad I could see them bloom in Japan!