Japan’s spring season brings with it many beautiful flowers that bloom during this time. Most people associate spring in Japan with sakura, cherry blossoms, but besides cherry blossoms, there are many different gorgeous seasonal beautiful sceneries that this country offers. One of the most iconic flowers is the Wisteria in Japan, which has its full bloom during this period.

Here are 28 best wisteria spots in Japan and different wisteria festivals that you might want to check out this spring season. Just a heads up, the price, access and exact date of the events might change, so make sure to check out their official websites for the most up-to-date information.

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Find out more about Spring in Japan here: What to do in Spring, Where to go in spring, Wisteria in Japan, Spring Date ideas, What to do eat in spring, Where to see cherry blossom in Tokyo and Cherry blossom festivals.

1. [Tochigi Prefecture] Ashikaga City- Ashikaga Flower Park あしかがフラワーパーク

Ashikaga Flower Park was selected as one of CNN’s “10 Dream Travel Destinations in the World in 2014”. More than 350 wisteria are in full bloom in spring, including the 150-year-old Ofuji, the Shirafuji tunnel, and the Kibana wisteria tunnel, which has a beautiful bright yellow colour.

It is recommended to come to this place not only during the day but also at night, which has been certified as a Japanese night view heritage site. The wisteria in the park blooms in the order of light red, purple, white, and yellow, and you can enjoy the change of colours for about a month.

Best time to see: Mid-April to mid-May

Access: About 3 minutes on foot from Ashikaga Flower Park Station

2. [Ibaraki Prefecture] Kasama City- Kasama Inari Shrine 笠間稲荷神社

Kasama Inari Shrine is one of Japan’s three major Inari, which is visited by about 3.5 million worshipers annually. The two wisteria trees in the precincts are over 400 years old and were designated as a natural monument of the prefecture in 1967. One of them is a slightly unusual type, where flowers gather and bloom like grapes. The Kasama Inari Museum, which displays old pottery from the six ancient kilns of the Middle Ages, is also located here.

Best time to see: Early to mid-May

Access: Get off at Kasama Station, about 20 minutes on foot or about 5 minutes by taxi

3. [Gunma Prefecture] Fujioka City- Fuji no Sakuoka / Fuji Fureaikan ふじの咲く丘・ふじふれあい館

Colourful wisteria such as purple, white and pink blooms beautifully in Fuji no Sakuoka, at about 2.3 hectares. There is a wisteria shelf with a total length of about 250 meters and a garden with 45 kinds of wisteria.

“Fujioka Fuji Festival” is held here and the event changes according to the flowers. A local market, stalls and outdoor concerts are held here, and it attracts many people visiting from all over the country. The fantastic illuminations at night are also worth seeing. Prior to the wisteria blooming, the “Fujioka Sakura Festival” is also held from late March to early April.

Best time to see: Late April to mid-May

Access: Approximately 15 minutes by circulation (clockwise) in the city from JR “Gunma Fujioka” station

4. [Tokyo] Koto Ward- Kameido Tenjin 亀戸天神

More than 100 wisteria flowers bloom here from late April, and many people visit the wisteria spots in downtown Tokyo to see it at a glance. During the wisteria festival, many stalls are set up and the area is lit up at night. The wisteria at night, which blooms beautifully against the backdrop of the Tokyo Sky Tree, is a unique sight you can’t enjoy anywhere else. 

The annual wisteria festival is held every year when more than 50 wisteria flowers begin to bloom. You can view the flowers and the faint scent reflected in Shinji Pond, and it is one of the most famous wisteria spots in Tokyo. 

Best time to see: Late April-early May

Access: Get off at Kameido Station or Kinshicho Station, about 15 minutes on foot

5. [Tokyo] Chofu City- Kokuryo Shrine 國領神社

The wisteria in Kokuryo Shrine is called Sennen Noto. It is a sacred tree. It is said to be about 400 to 500 years old. When it is in full bloom, lilac wisteria flowers look gorgeous all over the wisteria shelf, which is about 4 meters high, taking up ​​about 400 square meters. Pay attention to the votive tablets and red stamps with beautiful wisteria. During the wisteria festival, different stages and food stalls will be gathered here for you to take part in and enjoy.

Best time to see: Late April-early May

Access: About 5 minutes on foot from Fuda Station

6. [Kanagawa Prefecture] Yokosuka City- Yokosuka Shobuen 横須賀しょうぶ園

Yokosuka Shobuen is one of the largest wisteria viewing spots in Japan. There are about 250 wisteria trees of 11 types in the park, and the wisteria festival is held from late April to early May. You can enjoy watching wisteria while tasting Japanese sweets and tea. Rhododendron and Odemari are also in full bloom, so you can enjoy different flowers and sceneries other than wisteria.

Best time to see: Late April-early May

Access: From Kinugasa Station, get off at Keihin Kyuko Bus Iris Garden and walk for about 2 minutes.

7. [Saitama Prefecture] Kasukabe City- Tokaen 藤花園 

Tokaen features the wisteria, Ushijima no Fuji, which is over 1200 years old. This place is designated as a special natural monument. The branched branches spread over a wisteria shelf of about 700 square meters, along with the longest flower cluster that extends to 2 meters. There are other wisteria shelves of the same size scattered around, and you can enjoy watching irises and azaleas in the area of about 2 hectares.

Best time to see: Late April-early May

Access: About 10 minutes on foot from Fujino-Ushijima Station

8. [Saitama Prefecture] Kazo City- Tamashiki Park 玉敷公園

Tamashiki Park is over 450 years old and it has a flower cluster of about 1 meter and has a branch of about 700 square meters. Tamashiki Park is famous and has been designated as a natural monument in Saitama Prefecture. The Kisai Wisteria Festival is held every year during Golden Week, and different events and performances are held here, such as Yosakoi dance and Japanese drums. Different stalls are also set up here, attracting many tourists from all over the country. When wisterias bloom here, azaleas also bloom, making a gorgeous scenery of different colours. About 1 kilometer away, you can find Shiroyama Park, where the wisteria festival is held during the same period. Enjoy checking out the two spots during the season.

Best time to see: Late April to mid-May

Access: Take the bus from “Kazo” station on the Tobu Isesaki line and get off at “Kisai 1-chome” stop, about 10 minutes on foot

9. [Saitama Prefecture] Honjo City- Chosenji Temple, Wisteria of Kotsuhada 長泉寺 ～骨波田の藤～

The wisteria of Chosenji Temple was designated as a natural monument of the prefecture in 1959, and it is estimated that the wisteria tree is about 650 years old. With a total shelf area of ​​about 2,500 square meters, you can enjoy viewing wisteria in four colours: white, pink, dark mauve, and pale mauve. During the full bloom, the area is lit up for a limited time.

Best time to see: Late April to mid-May

Access: About 7 minutes by taxi from Kodama Station

10. [Aichi Prefecture] Konan City- Mandaraji Park 曼陀羅寺公園

Mandaraji Park is adjacent to the famous temple Mandaraji, which was built at the request of Emperor Go-Daigo. About 60 wisterias of 12 types such as early bloomer, late bloomer, purple and white are planted in the park. The wisteria in Mandaraji Park is in full bloom from late April to early May, and you can enjoy about 300 peony flowers at the same time. During the wisteria festival, fantastic illuminations and different events are held.

Best time to see: Late April-early May

Access: About 10 minutes from Gangnam Station by Meitetsu Bus bound for Gangnam housing complex, get off at Mandaraji Temple

11. [Aichi Prefecture] Tsushima City- Tennogawa Park 天王川公園

Tsushima City, Aichi Prefecture, is a famous place for wisteria, which was once called “Fujinami no Sato”. At Tennogawa Park, you can enjoy the fantastic wisteria flowers that you can feel the remnants of. There are 114 wisteria trees of 12 types centred on the nine shaku wisteria, and the wisteria shelf with an area of ​​about 5,034 square meters is lit up not only during the day but also at night so that you can enjoy the flowers. The wisteria trellis reflected on the surface of the water is also quaint, and you can enjoy a magnificent view.

Best time to see: Late April-early May

Access: About 15 minutes on foot from Tsushima Station

12. [Aichi Prefecture] Hekinan City- Hirotoen 広藤園

Hirotoen opened around 1820 when the inhabitants of this area, who loved wisteria, built wisteria shelves. There are 14 wisteria trees known as Hiro no Nagafuji and one Daruma wisteria. When wisteria is in full bloom, the splendid wisteria flowers stretch for about 1,000 square meters all over the place. Don’t miss the festival events such as the Taishogoto concert and the illumination by Namba lanterns.

Best time to see: Late April-early May

Access: About 10 minutes by taxi from Kitashinkawa Station

13. [Shizuoka Prefecture] Iwata City- Nagafuji Park and Gyokoji Temple 豊田熊野記念公園・行興寺の長藤

Inside Nagafuji Park, you can find Gyokoji Temple. There is a nationally designated natural monument here, Kumano Nagafuji, which is estimated to be about 850 years old. Besides this unique wisteria tree, there are five designated trees of the prefecture’s natural monument and dozens of wisteria. Besides these, a wisteria shelf with a total area of ​​1,042 square meters spreads out in the adjacent Toyota Kumano Memorial Park, and you can enjoy flower viewing in all of these places.

Best time to see: Late April-early May

Access: About 10 minutes by taxi from Toyodacho Station

14. [Gifu Prefecture] Hashima City- Takehana Betsuin 竹鼻別院

At Takehana Betsuin, 300-year-old wisteria, which is designated as a natural monument of the prefecture, begins to bloom around the end of April. It has been known as “Betsuin no Wisteria” for a long time, and the annual Mino Takehana Festival is crowded with many people visiting from all over the country. Don’t miss out on the chance to check out the Takehana Festival’s gorgeous mountain car, which is an important tangible folk cultural property designated by the prefecture.

Best time to see: Late April-early May

Access: About 5 minutes on foot from Hashima City Hall Station

15. [Hyogo Prefecture] Tamba City- Byakugo-ji Temple 白毫寺

Byakugo-ji Temple is said to have been opened by Hodo Sennin, an Indian ascetic, in 705. In May, the Kyushaku wisteria in the area are in full bloom, and the wisteria shelf with a total length of about 120 meters is magnificently coloured. The flower clusters of about 1.2 to 1.5 meters long hang down like a shower. The view is spectacular and the beautiful wisteria at night is lit up, making it a unique and gorgeous view that’s different from the day.

Best time to see: Early to mid-May

Access: About 10 minutes by taxi from Ichijima Station

16. [Hyogo Prefecture] Shiso City- Dasai Shrine 大歳神社

The wisteria of Dasai Shrine, which is said to have been planted by the local Yoemon in 960, is over 1000 years old. Around the large trunk of about 3.8 meters, about 1 meter of flower clusters blooms on the wisteria trellis that spreads about 420 square meters. It is a natural monument designated by Hyogo Prefecture and has been selected as one of the “100 Kaori Landscapes” designated by the Ministry of the Environment. Take a leisurely stroll here with the sweet scent of wisteria around you. 

Best time to see: Late April to mid-May

Access: About 5 minutes by car from Yamasaki IC

17. [Hyogo Prefecture] Asago City- Shirai Omachi Fuji Park 白井大町藤公園

Shirai Omachi Fuji Park was completed in 1999. It is a famous place for wisteria with a total length of about 500 meters and a width of about 4 meters in the area of about 7,000 square meters. The white, purple and pink wisteria flower clusters get up to about 1.45 meters. Fujinami swaying in the wind is a wonderful sight. When the wisteria is in full bloom, many carp streamers are displayed over the reservoir on the north side of the park. You can enjoy the gorgeous decorations along with the beautiful wisteria flowers.

Best time to see: Early to mid-May

Access: About 10 minutes by taxi from Wadayama Station

18. [Osaka] Sennan City- Kumano Shindachijuku 熊野街道信達宿

Shindachijuku displays Noda Fuji of the Kajimoto family in Kumano Highway, where the old townscape remains. About 40,000 flower clusters are attached to one tree, and the wisteria festival is held when it is in full bloom. During the period, a viewing platform will be set up so that you can not only look up at the wisteria from below but also see the wisteria like a sea of ​​clouds from above.

Best time to see: Mid-late April

Access: About 8 minutes on foot from Izumi-Sunagawa Station

19. [Nara Prefecture] Nara City- Kasuga Taisha Shrine / Manyo Botanical Garden 春日大社 神苑・萬葉植物園

Kasuga Taisha Shrine is known for its flowing wisterias. There are about 200 wisteria of 20 varieties planted in the south garden of the Manba Botanical Garden. In the early blooming period, rare wisteria such as “Musk Fuji” with a strong beautiful scent and “Showa Benifuji” with a deep pink colour bloom. From the middle to the end of the flowering period, different types of wisteria such as Kuroryu Fuji will also begin to bloom.

Best time to see: Late April-early May

Access: Bus from Nara Station, get off at Kasuga Taisha Omotesando stop

20. [Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture]- Toba Water Environment Conservation Center 鳥羽水環境保全センター

A famous place for wisteria in Kyoto is called Toba no Wisteria. It is open to the public for only a few days. When the wisterias are in full bloom, different events are being held. In the corridor of the wisteria shelf, a purple shower-like flower cluster continues for about 120 meters, making it a gorgeous place for people to visit.

Best time to see: Late April

Access: Get off at Kamitoba Umama stop on the city bus and walk for about 10 minutes

21. [Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture] Jonangu 城南宮

Jonangu consists of five gardens. Each garden is different from the other. The Muromachi Garden is where the wisteria blooms. This garden has a pond and the entire place is created in the style of the Muromachi period. In the centre of the pond is Horaijima, where pine trees that symbolise immortality and longevity are planted. You can also see koi fish swimming gracefully in the pond. The stunning Fuji and Azalea here, which are about 150 years old, look beautiful side by side.

Best time to see: Late April

Access: About 15 minutes on foot from Takeda Station

22. [Shiga Prefecture] Kusatsu City- Sandai Shrine 三大神社

The “Sunazuri no Fuji” of Sandai Shrine along the Shina Highway hangs down nearly 2 meters, and the wisteria festival is held from late April to early May. Here, you can find the 2-meter-high hexagonal pillar stone lantern next to the main shrine is representative of stone art from the Kamakura period and has been designated as a national important cultural property. Together with the neighbouring Shina Shrine and Sosha Shrine, these three spots are well-known for their wisterias. 

Best time to see: Late April-early May

Access: From Kusatsu Station, take the Ohmi Railway bus bound for Karasuma Peninsula, get off at Kitaogaya, and walk for about 10 minutes.

23. [Shiga Prefecture] Hino Town, Shohoji 正法寺

The old wisteria tree, which is over 300 years old, is famous. In May, the flower clusters, which are longer than 1 meter long, hang down beautifully. There are many cultural properties such as the stone treasure tower and Basho’s monument, which are important cultural properties of Japan. Shohoji is a spot where you can enjoy not only the wisteria but also the cultural properties and history.

Best time to see: Early to mid-May

Access: From Hino Station, take the Hino Municipal Bus bound for Kaigake, get off at the end station, and walk for about 10 minutes.

24. [Okayama Prefecture] Kurashiki City- Achi Shrine 阿智神社

Achi Shrine is an old shrine over 1700 years old and it is located on the top of Mt. Tsurugata in the beautiful district of Kurashiki. The wisteria of Achi is designated as a natural monument in Okayama prefecture, and the wisteria is a rare species called Akebonofuji. The appearance of pink flowers blooming all over the wisteria trellis is wonderful. During Golden Week, the wisteria festival is also held and is crowded with people.

Best time to see: Late April-early May

Access: About 15 minutes on foot from Kurashiki Station

25. [Tottori Prefecture] Daisen Town- Juunji 住雲寺

Juunji Temple is also known as Fujiji Temple. There are four large trees of the wisteria variety called Rokushaku Fuji, which is a little rare in Japan. This type of wisteria has a bunch of flowers hanging down to about 1.8 meters. During Golden Week, the wisteria festival will be held, where you can enjoy wisteria mochi gifts, koto performances, tea ceremonies and light-ups.

Best time to see: Early to mid-May

Access: About 20 minutes on foot from Nawa Station

26. [Ehime Prefecture] Saijo City- Teishoji 禎祥寺

Teishoji is a temple that is said to have been built in the Kamakura period. The wisteria of Kannon-do, which is said to be over 400 years old and is designated as a natural monument of the prefecture. The height is about 3 meters, and the branching extends about 16 meters from east to west and about 14 meters from north to south. When it is in full bloom, many visitors come from inside and outside the prefecture.

Best time to see: Late April-early May

Access: About 10 minutes on foot from Iyo Saijo Station

Kyushu

27. [Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture] Kawachi Wisteria 河内藤園

From late April to mid-May, 22 kinds of wisteria flowers such as Noda Nagafuji and Lipstick Wisteria bloom in the Kawachi Wisteria Garden. There are beautiful viewing spots such as the Ofuji shelf, which spreads for more than 3,300 square meters. Take a stroll through the gorgeous wisteria tunnels of about 110 meters and 80 meters when you visit and take in the beautiful contrast with the fresh green and the colourful wisterias. 

Best time to see: Early May

Access: About 20 minutes by car from Otani IC or Yamaji IC

28. [Fukuoka Prefecture] Ogori City- Dainakatomi Shrine 大中臣神社

Shogun Fuji is said to have been dedicated by Prince Kaneyoshi, the son of Emperor Go-Daigo, about 600 years ago. The dark purple flowers blooming on a wisteria shelf of about 500 square meters is spectacular. During the Shogun Wisteria Festival, you can enjoy the wisteria flowers lit up, offering a fantastic atmosphere different from the daytime.

Best time to see: Mid-April to early May

Access: About 5 minutes on foot from Hatama Station

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What do you think about these places to see wisteria? Do you want to check out the wisteria festivals for yourself? There are so many to choose from, hopefully you get to visit a few in the upcoming spring season. 

Find out more about Spring in Japan here: What to do in Spring, Where to go in spring, Wisteria in Japan, Spring Date ideas, What to do eat in spring, Where to see cherry blossom in Tokyo and Cherry blossom festivals.

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