Spring Flowers in Japan: When & Where to Go (The Best Gardens, Fields, Parks, and Spots)

When it comes to spring in Japan, most people would immediately think of the country’s famed sakura (桜) or cherry blossom flowers that have long since attracted millions of travelers around the world. This comes as no surprise because its charming beauty envelops both urban and natural sights in a delicate pink hue! (Spring Flowers in Japan)

Did you know? The sakura is said to be Japan’s unofficial national flower!

However, there is more to Japan’s spring season than these popular pink blooms! In fact, there are many different kinds of spring flowers in Japan that are highly sought-after.

This is especially seen in the attitudes of locals who have inadvertently ingrained Japanese flowers into their culture — after all, you can see them incorporated in a lot of art items, clothing, festivals, and even on their passports.

• Hanami (花見): The traditional Japanese custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers (hana), usually by holding an outdoor party.
• Hanakotoba (花言葉): This is the Japanese form of the language of flowers in which flowers are given codes so that emotions can be conveyed to the recipient without the use of words.
• Ikebana (生け花): The Japanese art of flower arrangement which is counted as the 3 classical Japanese arts of refinement (the other two are kōdō for incense appreciation and chadō for tea).

Some people say that the reason for the Japanese’s fascination for flowers and nature alike lies in their Shinto belief wherein gods exist in every living thing; thus, making them respect even the smallest plant there is!

So if you want to immerse yourself in this same appreciative outlook of the locals, here are the top spring flowers in Japan that you should take note of for your visit so that you can be a part of related flower festival celebrations, as well as witness grand Japanese gardens, flower fields, and parks in their peak blooming season!

Top photo by: Shutterstock

Top Spring Flowers in Japan

» Azalea or “Tsutsuji” (Rhododendron)

Bunkyo Azalea Festival photo by: Shutterstock

(つつじ) Azaleas or tsutsuji are some of the most favored spring flowers in Japan. Back in the olden times, azaleas were used to pray for a bountiful harvest; nowadays, the flower took on a different meaning as it is often regarded as a symbol of patience and modestness.

For the best places to view this kind of flower, you should take note of the following…

• (TAKEO) Mifuneyama Rakuen Park: Found on the western foot of Mt. Minfune, this is a massive national monument park that is about 150,000 square meters! In the height of spring, locals flock to this spot to view the thousands of pink and purple azaleas that are backdropped by the boat-shaped mountain.
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• (OSAKA) Narukawa Azalea Garden: This beautiful Japanese garden is hidden within Mt. Ikoma and it can only be reached by foot — a worthy trip that you must do when in Osaka because you’ll love the overwhelming colors of the azalea bushes that can grow higher than 5 feet! (Apart from azaleas, the park also has cherry blossom trees for viewing).
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• (TOKYO) Bunkyo Azalea Festival: Also called Tsutsuji Matsuri, this festival of azalea flowers is held in Nezu Shrine which is one of the oldest shrines in Tokyo. Every year, guests attend this festival to witness over 3,000 azalea flowers with over 100 genus varieties. While there, don’t forget to drop by the shrine’s famous pond and Senbon Torii (a tunnel-like pathway that is lined up with several torii gates).
  • Festival Date: (TBC) April 8 to May 5
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• (NEAR KYOTO) Mt. Katsuragi: This mountain is easily accessible by bus or ropeway and if you want to have a panoramic view of the sea of pink and red azaleas, you only need to do a 90-minute scenic hike to the top.

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» Cherry Blossom or “Sakura” (Prunus Serrulata)

Photo by: Shutterstock

(桜) Of course, sakura is one of the top spring flowers in Japan that you must absolutely witness. It blooms for a short time (about 10 days only) so you should time your visit well.

I have already written extensively about the best times and the best spots to go to in Japan for cherry blossoms, so don’t forget to click on the link below!

READ:
~ Japan Cherry Blossom (with Forecast Map)
~ Kyoto Cherry Blossom Spots

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» Creeping Phlox or “Rurikarakusa” (Nemophila Menziesii)

Photo by: Shutterstock

Rurikarakusa is a low-growing plant that has pretty baby blue flowers — which often makes it gain the name ‘baby blue eyes’. It helps to note that this is part of the nemophila genus group of flowers; however, this particular kind refers to the ‘insignis blue’ variety.

So if you’re in TOKYO, you can head over to the Showa Memorial Park near Tachikawa Station to view this blue beauty. Otherwise, head north to see the Instagrammable view shown in the photo above called as…

• (IBARAKI) Hitachi Seaside Park: This is a well-known park that is loved for its seasonal flowers throughout the year, but it is mostly visited in spring because of its sea of blue nemophila that number over 4 million!!! It is absolutely densely covered that it will seem like you’re walking in the sky.
  • TIP: Book a hassle-free tour to Hitachi Seaside Park

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» Iris or “Airisu or Ayame” (Iris Germanica)

Photo by: Shutterstock

(アイリス) Japan’s iris is an early summer flower (with its peak usually in June) but it’s a sight you must not miss while in the country during spring because it often starts to bloom in the latter weeks.

Symbolizing the meaning of good news and loyalty, you can find a lot of irises in various shades of purple, violet, yellow, and white in some of these top spots…

• (IBARAKI) Itako Iris Festival: In the Maekawa Iris Garden as well as along the bridges of Itako City, you will find around a million irises from over 500 varieties that are in bloom from late May to early June. (Plus, if your trip overlaps to June, you can even watch the famous traditional wedding processions that they do by boat.)
  • Festival Date: (TBC) May 22 to June 10
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• (TOKYO) Katsushika Iris Festival: This festival is held in two parks: Horikiri Shobuen Iris Garden (home to 6,000 iris plants of 200 varieties) and Mizumoto Park (with about 14,000 irises of 100 varieties).
  • Festival Date: (TBC) May 26 to June 21
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• (TOKYO) Meiji Jingu Gyoen: Head over to the Meiji Shrine’s garden to see the display of over 150 varieties of shobu irises!
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• (KYOTO) Heian Jingu Shrine: This is an amazing shrine in Kyoto and if you want to see a picturesque display of irises, go to Byakko Pond on the west of the shrine’s garden! There will be over 2,000 of them there in a myriad of shapes and colors, so don’t forget to charge your cameras!
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• (KYOTO) Ota Shrine: This is a part of the Kamigamo Shrine family and it is well-known for its irises that grow in the nearby pond.
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• (KAMAKURA) Meigetsuin Temple: Locals love to visit this temple to witness two flowers which are the ajisai (hydrangea) and the airisu (iris). The hydrangeas rather bloom in the summer but the irises bloom earlier at the end of spring, so just head over to the temple’s inner garden to see an abundance of this flower.

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» Lilac or “Rairakku” (Syringa)

Photo by: Shutterstock

This is one of the best spring flowers in Japan that has an early bloom time and if there is one place in the country that is a MUST to see for this, it will be to Hokkaido’s Sapporo!

• (HOKKAIDO) Sapporo Lilac Festival: After a long winter, Japanese locals flock to Honshu island’s Sapporo to be a part of this famous festival that first began in 1959! Since then, the lilac has been the official flower of Sapporo and you can best witness it in the following parks…
  • Odori Park: About 400 lilac trees, and if you come on the first day of the festival, you will receive FREE lilac seedlings as a gift!
  • Kawashimo Park: Has a lovely lilac forest that number about a thousand. You’ll also love the surrounding events for the festival such as performances, workshops, and many others.
  • Festival Date: (TBC) May 20 to 31

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» Moss Phlox / Pink Moss or “Shibazakura” (Phlox Subulata)

Photo by: Shutterstock

Moss phlox is one of the most amazing spring flowers in Japan! They are such tiny five-petaled flowers that grow quite close, that’s why when they are planted in great numbers, the scenery will seemingly look like it has formed a natural carpet.

The best places to go to in order to see the moss phlox or shibazakura in its full glory would be…

• (YAMANASHI) Fuji Shibazakura Festival: (Pictured above) This takes place every year in Fuji Motosuko Resort, a flower park in the Yamanashi Prefecture that’s close to Mt. Fuji and located somewhere south of Lake Motosuko in the Five Fuji Lakes area. The extensive field of shibazakura flowers here is one of the largest in the greater Tokyo area, embracing about 1 million shibazakura in different colors! You’ll love how the flowers roll out endlessly in lawns of blushing red, pink, creamy white, as well as a touch of purple, and in these carpeted fields, there is nothing obstructing your view of Mt. Fuji (especially on a clear day!).
  • Festival Date: (TBC) April 17 to May 30
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• (SAITAMA) Hitsujiyama Park: An alternative would be this spot in Chichibu that’s closer to Tokyo. Albeit smaller than the former, this scenic park still boasts about 400,000 shibazakura for you to enjoy!

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» Peach or “Momo” (Prunus Persica)

Photo by: Shutterstock

(桃) If you’re seeking spring flowers in Japan that are almost similar to the look of a sakura tree (although a lot pinker), then peach blossoms could be one of your top choices! Often regarded as a symbol of purity or femininity, peach flowers are a bit harder to find than the rest of the spring blooms — BUT, there is one place where you can easily find it (and it can be an easy day trip from Tokyo!).

• (YAMANASHI) Fuefuki: This city boasts acres and acres of peach farms carpeting its valley (it is, after all, the largest producer of peaches in Japan), and if you time your visit well, you can even be a part of their annual Peach Blossom Festival or Togenkyo Spring Festival that is typically held at the Yatsushiro Furusato Park.
  • Try to hang out in the city until nighttime when they do fireworks and illumination events.
  • Festival Date: (TBC) March 20 to April 10

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» Peony or “Botan” (Paeonia)

Photo by: Shutterstock

(牡丹) Do you want larger spring flowers in Japan? Then peonies that typically symbolize bravery should be on your Japan itinerary!

• (TOKYO) Ueno Toshogu Peony Garden: Found within Ueno Park, this is a great place to not only view peonies in bloom but to also get some respite from the city’s bustling scene. Just take note that the garden is only open to the public twice a year so please check their website for details.
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• (NARA) Hase-dera Temple Peony Festival: The temple of Hase-dera is often referred to as a flower temple because of how it showcases blooming flowers year-round — the most famous of which is its peonies! Planted about a thousand years ago, you will love the number of peony trees in the temple grounds, and if you could come here with a kimono rental, the better it will be for photo ops.
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• (SADO ISLAND) Chokokuji Temple Peony Festival: If you’re already in Chubu‘s Niigata area, try to head over to Sado Island to witness this 2-day festival for peonies wherein you can attend a tea ceremony as well as other performances.

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» Plum Blossom or “Ume” (Prunus Mume)

Inabe Plum Grove photo by: Shutterstock

Plum blossoms or ume are actually the first to bloom among the spring flowers in Japan, so it is often referred to as a sign of how spring has arrived. As such, flower viewing or hanami was first done for plum flowers, not the sakura; not to mention that plum blossoms even last longer for about a month, as compared to sakura that only lasts about 7 to 10 days.

Try not to mistake this for sakura (since they do look somewhat alike) and enjoy its beauty in the following spots…

• (ATAMI) Atami Baien Plum Festival: This is one of the best plum viewing spots in Japan given that the trees are one of the earliest kinds to bloom (around 2nd week of January). There are about 400 plum trees here and during the festival, you’ll get to see some performances too!
  • Festival Date: (TBC) January 9 to March 7
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• (TOKYO) Bunkyo Plum Blossom Festival: Held in Yushima Tenmangu shrine, this is one of the most famous flower events in the capital and you’ll find over 300 plum trees spread about inside the shrine.
  • Festival Date: (TBC) February 7 to March 7
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• (FUKUSHIMA) Hanamiyama Park: Approximately 300 plum trees are planted on the hillside of this mountain park (after which, a number of other spring flowers will gradually bloom such as forsythia, magnolia, camellia, cherry blossoms and others).
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• (MIE) Inabe Plum Grove (Inabe Bairin): This is one of the largest plum gardens in Japan that houses over 4,500 trees! Given its number, the city holds an annual Inabe Plum Festival or Inabe Ume Matsuri that attracts a lot of visitors.
  • Festival Date: (TBC) March 9
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• (MIE) Suzuka Forest Garden: Found in the same prefecture as Inabe Plum Grove, this is an interesting Japanese garden that you should go to if you want to witness a different plum variant. After all, this landscape garden is known for shidare ume or weeping plum in which as the name goes, the plum blossoms drape over the branches beautifully!
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• (MITO) Kairakuen: This is a vast landscaped garden in Ibaraki Prefecture and it is regarded as one of the 3 greatest gardens in Japan (alongside Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa and Korakuen Garden in Okayama). In here, you’ll find over 3,000 plum trees in 100 varieties and they last for more than a month!

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» Poppy or “Popi” (Papaver)

Chichibu photo by: Shutterstock

(雛芥子) When the sakura fades, poppy flowers come out to bloom in all its bold red colors! It may not be one of the common spring flowers in Japan due to how it grows in only a few places, but if you could manage to visit the following places, it will definitely be worth it.

• (SAITAMA) Chichibu: Located near Tokyo is a highland called Chichibu Kogen Bokujo and inside, you will find a 12-acre flower zone where over millions and millions of poppies are grown! Other than the typical red ones, you can also find white and pink poppies in the fields.
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• (KANAGAWA) Kurihama Hana-no-Kuni Flower World: A huge flower park in which its fields are adourned by beautiful poppies from May to June! The awesome fact about this place is that when the blossom season is ending, you are allowed to cut or pick the poppies for FREE. (If you’re a fan of Godzilla, you will even find a huge statue of him on the top of the hill in which his tail has been transformed into a slide).

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» Rapeseed or “Nanohana” (Brassica Napus) / or Canola

Takikawa Rapeseed Field photo by: Shutterstock

Rapeseed or canola blossoms (different plants but they belong in the same cabbage family and are often confused for one another) are also one of the most beautiful spring flowers in Japan due to their bright-yellow hue! March is the best time to see them and some of the places to check out are…

• (TOKYO) Hamarikyu Garden: Near Shimbashi Station in Odaiba is this amazing garden where you can find a carpet of rape blossoms (over 300,000 stalks of them!).
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• (CHIBA) Isumi Railway: In Chiba Prefecture, simply ride the Isumi Railway from Ohara Station to Kazusa-Nakano Station and watch as you pass by canola fields that are lined by lovely sakura trees for as long as 15 kilometers! (If you’re a fan of Moomin characters, the train line is actually a themed design for it).
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• (NISHI) Nokonoshima Park: A natural park that spans 15 hectares on the northern coast of Nokonoshima Island. There are different flowers that take the spotlight every season, but the spring’s canola flowers are said to be the most famous. After all the contrast of the bright yellow canolas against the bright blue sky and ocean are a picturesque mix!
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• (KANAGAWA) Yokohama: This town has the largest cultivation field of canola and rapeseed flowers in Japan! The plants bloom in May and lasts for about a month. If you want to witness a celebration, come during the 2-day Rape Blossom Festival that’s usually held on the 3rd Sunday of May and you can see a huge rape blossom maze, a marathon, and some other events.
  • Festival Date: (TBC) May 18 to 19
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• (HOKKAIDO) Takikawa Rapeseed Field: Did you know? This field was chosen as one of the “Top 100 Inspirational Places of Hokkaido”, which makes total sense because the yellow carpet of rape blossoms is truly phenomenal! Every year they also hold a Takikawa Rape Flower Festival (Nanohana Matsuri) that thousands of visitors look forward to in spring!
  • Festival Date: (TBC) Late May

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» Tulip or “Churippu” (Tulipa)

Photo by: Shutterstock

(チューリップ) You don’t need to venture far to the Netherlands to see fields of tulips because Japan has a lot of amazing fields that you can enjoy while you’re in Asia!

• (TONAMI) Tonami Tulip Fair: Celebrated on the grounds of Tonami Tulip Park, this 2-week fair has got to be the most popular event for viewing tulips in Japan! Besides, Tonami city is the leading producer of tulip bulbs in the country and as a way to celebrate this endeavor, the fair is held to showcase over 2 million tulips on endless fields and flowerbeds.
  • Tonami Tulip Gallery: Another part of the tulip fair is this exhibition hall where guests can view tulips NOT only during the spring’s fair but for the rest of the year too! They have truly implemented an interesting technology and it’s a definite must-see.
  • Fair Date: (TBC) April 22 to May 5

READ: Exploring Tonami Tulip Gallery

• (TOKYO) Showa Memorial Park: This is a large park (koen) in Tokyo that has different kinds of flowers, but its most impressive garden will have to be the tulips area in which you’ll find over 200,000 tulips!
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• (SAKURA) Sakura Furusato Hiroba: This is the best place to go to near Tokyo for viewing tulips! Time your visit during their festival, Sakura Tulip Festa, and you’ll get to glimpse over 600,000 tulip flowers of different colors (backdropped by a Dutch-style windmill too!).
  • Festival Date: (TBC) April 3 to 25
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• (HOKKAIDO) Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park: If you plan to travel around the northern part of Japan in spring, don’t forget to drop by the Okhotsk region to visit this park that has over 1.2 million tulips!
  • TIP: Book a hassle-free tour to Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park
  • Fair Date: (TBC) May 1 to early June
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• (NIIGATA) Gosen Tulip Festival: As a major producer of tulips in Niigata prefecture, Gosen holds a tulip festival every year as they showcase roughly 1.5 million tulips in varying colors.
  • Festival Date: (TBC) April 15 to late May
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• (NAGASAKI) Huis Ten Bosch: As you will notice from the name, this is a place that recreates a Dutch town and it is actually a theme park that is named after one of the residences of the Dutch Royal family. From the moment that you step into its grounds, you’ll feel like you’re transported to Europe given its windmill structures, long canals, and overall architecture — and of course, true to its name, you’ll find a colorful tulip field here to enjoy!

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» Wisteria or “Fuji” (Wisteria Sinensis)

Ashikaga Flower Park photo by: Shutterstock

Wisteria might just be one of the top favorite spring flowers in Japan especially for those who are looking to take stunning photographs! As you can see, this is a long trailing vining plant in which its blue to purple flowers beautifully cascade down from its branches. The vines can get quite heavy though so they are often decorated along archways or pergolas.

For the best places to do wisteria viewing, they are…

• (FUKUOKA) Kawachi Fujien Garden: This is a private botanical garden that is famous worldwide for its two Wisteria Tunnels that are filled with varying shades of wisteria colors and variants — blue, pink, purple, and white (as seen in the topmost photo of this post).
  • TIP: Book a hassle-free tour to Kawachi Fujien! Due to its high popularity, it’s advisable to book your tickets as early as March in order to enter the garden.
  • Opening Date: (TBC) April 20 to May 6
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• (TOCHIGI) Ashikaga Flower Park: It’s easy to see why CNN named this park as one of the top 10 international dream destinations because, with its 94,000sqm expanse filled with hundreds of wisteria trees, visitors are sure to have a dreamy time! Due to its popularity, the Great Wisteria Festival is also held here which is recognized as a ‘National Heritage Night View’ spot — so don’t forget to stay in the park after dark.
  • Take the time to see the colossal 100-year-old fuji (wisteria) tree in the park, along with its 80-meter white wisteria tunnel and golden Kibana wisteria tunnel.
  • Festival Date: (TBC) April 13 to May 19
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• (TOKYO) Kaameido Tenjinja Shrine: If you can’t venture out far from Tokyo, this shrine is your best bet for viewing wisterias. There are over 15 trellises here of over 100 wisteria varieties. Add the wonderful ambiance of the shrine along with its ambient moon bridges, you will surely be snapping photos non-stop!
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• (AICHI) Tennogawa Park: Found near Nagoya, this is the site of the yearly Owari Tsushima Wisteria Festival. There are 275-meter wisteria trellises here that stretch out across the canal and its reflection on the surface of the water truly makes this a photogenic location!
  • TIP: Found not too far away is Mandaraji Temple which is another wisteria viewing spot! Try to squeeze it in your things to do in Japan while you’re already in the Aichi prefecture’s Nagoya.
  • Festival Date: (TBC) April 20 to May 5
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• (HYOGO) Shirai Omachi Fuji Park: This is a large park of 7,000sqm and it is home to 150 wisteria trees that form a pergola that is 500 meters long and 4 meters wide!

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Top Gardens or Flower Parks in Japan

If you’re looking instead for a list of gardens, parks, or flower fields that hold a variety of spring flowers in Japan in just ONE place, then here they are!

» (HOKKAIDO) Furano Flower Fields

Shikisai no Oka photo by: Shutterstock

Furano Flower Fields is a collection of various flower farms that are located on the island of Hokkaido. As the name implies, this place is famous for the abundance of flowers that it holds. In fact, it is mostly known for its lavender and sunflowers fields such as that of the famed Farm Tomita — however, these plants are only in full bloom in the summer.

Nevertheless, outside of the lavender season is its vibrant spring in which flowers like poppies, lilies, rapeseed, and lupins are in bloom. Take note to go through Hanabito Kaido (Flower Road) in which you can find an array of farms exhibiting various flowers.

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» (NEAR TOKYO Spring Flowers in Japan) Showa Memorial Park

Photo by: Shutterstock

Also called as Showa Kinen Park, this expanse is located on the outskirts of Tokyo in Tachikawa. Spanning at 160 hectares, this is a national park that presents a variety of flower fields, museums, natural spaces, and facilities all over the year.

During spring, locals and tourists appreciate the beauty of nature by witnessing a great variety of spring flowers such as cherry blossoms and tulips with different colors. Locals also love the nanohana (rapeseed) and poppies that grow abundantly on Flower Hill. (The park also holds an annual flower festival from late March to May.)

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» (SHIZUOKA) Hamamatsu Flower Park

Photo by: Shutterstock

This is a botanical garden found on Lake Hamana and it offers about 100,000 plants of 3,000 varities spread about in an area of over 30,000sqm. All throughout the year, guests can enjoy the garden as different flowers bloom such as plum blossoms, apricots, roses, cherries, tulips as well as many others.

Apart from this, there is also a large greenhouse called Crystal Palace, a large water fountain show, a Flower Train bus, several lawn plazas, and regular events that people can enjoy.

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» (OITA) Kuju Flower Park

Photo by: Shutterstock

Found on the base of the Kuju Mountains at an altitude of 850 meters, this is a large flower plateau in Oita that has a greenhouse and spacious fields of about 3 million plants in more than 500 different varieties!

If you’re lucky enough and you come on a clear day, you’ll get an amazing backdrop view of the Kuju Mountain Range, making it such an amazing scene to picture.

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» (TOTTORI) Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park

Photo by: Shutterstock

Also called as Tottori Flower Gallery, this is yet another one of those Japanese flower parks where you can be surrounded by a number of different flowers combined with scenic views and structures — one of which is the well-placed glass greenhouse that is at the center of the park.

Guests can also enjoy a flower hill and a European garden in the vicinity. The best part? Entry during spring is only ¥1,000 ($9~) for adults and ¥500 for younger people; plus, it comes with a FREE shuttle bus that operates from JR Yonago Station.

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» (MIYAZAKI) Ikoma Kogen Plateau

Photo by: Shutterstock

A colorful plateau found at the foot of Mt. Kirishima and this vast area take on vivid colors come springtime as the fields are ‘painted’ with rapeseed, pansies, and poppies (in the summer there are salvias and followed by cosmos in autumn).

A lot of people favor this place given its sweeping views of the nearby mountains as well as the Nishimoro Basin.

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» Top Japan Tours «

Mt. Fuji Tour
…with several scenic stops!

Kyoto Tour
Visit temples, Arashiyama and many others!