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- Byakugoji Temple / Kameido Shrine / Ashikaga Flower Park / Jgarden / shokococo86 / ashikaga_flower_park / i_am_risuta / TakahiroBessho
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- Ashikaga Flower Park / Byakugō-ji Temple / Flower Viewing / Flowers / Hyogo / Kameido Shrine / Kitakyushu / Tokyo / Wisteria
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Every spring Japan bursts into floral brilliance, and I’m not just talking about cherry blossoms.
Wisteria, called fuji in Japanese, also holds a special place in the country's culture. On the cusp of spring and summer its blooming is celebrated with flower festivals in various areas of the country. The trees are known for the beautiful lilac petals which hang romantically, forming a screen which makes the perfect Instagram backdrop. Due to this, the flower festivals are a massive draw for photographers looking for otherworldly nature scenes, as we have shown in a previous article.
But unlike the famed cherry blossom, you can't find wisteria just anywhere in Japan.
Accessible from Tokyo is Ashikaga Flower Park, about an hour and a half away by train. The park is home to various species of wisteria which bloom in not only the famous purple, but also pink, white and yellow. The main event is a 150 year old grand wisteria tree. Visitors can also enjoy two floral tunnels and the park is lit up in the evening. The closest train station, Tomita station, is a 13 minute walk away.
Sadly, the various species don't peak all at once so guests need to plan their trip based on which they are more excited to see. But generally, the season in 2018 will span from April 18th to May 20th. Early May seems like the best bet to see as many in bloom as possible.
If you'd rather stay in the Metropolitan area, the enchanting flowers can be enjoyed from mid-April at Kameido Shrine, located in the Koto-ku area of Tokyo, one subway station away from the Sky Tree. This park also has night-time illuminations. It's in walking distance from both Kameido station and Kinshicho station.
Byakugo-ji, a temple in Hyogo is home to kyushaku-fuji, a species of wisteria known for it's large clusters of flowers. However, it seems difficult to get to via public transport, requiring a taxi from Ichijima station. For petal-viewing enthusiasts, it could be worth making the pilgrimage.
Remember before rushing to book your plane ticket that the blooming peaks at different times, depending on which part of Japan you're going to. Of course, the warmer climate down south means flowers bloom earlier. It's also worth noting that wisteria is not native to the chillier northern area of Hokkaido.