About 80 km (49.7 mi) outside of Tokyo, there’s a 94,000 m² flower park, which is roughly the size of 17 American football fields. And inside the park, sits a national treasure: a 160-year old wisteria tree. Every year, when it blooms, a huge festival is held, drawing crowds of visitors from all over Japan and the world.
The Ashikaga Flower Park is located in Tochigi, a prefecture best known for the small mountain city of Nikko, which boasts gorgeous autumn scenery and the ornate Toshogu Shrine. Tochigi is also home to one of the three Great Waterfalls of Japan—Kegon no Taki. The park is a little easier to get to though, and at just over two hours from Tokyo by train, easily accessible as a day trip.
Wisteria is known as fuji no hana in Japan. Not fuji like Mt. Fuji—the kanji for Japan’s beloved mountain means something akin to “abundant man”. Fuji the flower is written as 藤, which is cool because it kind of looks like wisteria hanging from a trellis. And wisteria hanging from trellises—the size of 600 tatami mats to be exact—is just what you’ll see in Tochigi.
The Great Wisteria Festival is held every year from late April to mid may. There’s different kinds of wisteria, from light pink to white to yellow, and each variety peaks at different times during the two months. But the real attraction is the really big, really old wisteria tree. In 2014, CNN Travel likened it to the Tree of Souls in Avatar and it truly is that magical, especially at night when it’s all lit up during the festival.
Crowd fatigue had me leaving at sundown, though. That’s the only downside to the event—there’s just so many people. In fact, it’s become so popular that in 2018, Japan Railways opened a dedicated station for the park. If anything, that’s just made it more accessible, which has attracted more people. Don’t let that deter you, though. Just be prepared.
I can say without a doubt that the Great Wisteria Festival is indeed worthy of its name. Just imagine over 350 wisteria trees blooming at the same time. Photos could never do it justice. And wisteria aren’t the only flowers showing off that time of year. There’s also azalea, peony, and roses to enjoy.
You can also try an array of different wisteria products, including cider and soft cream, and perfumes, hand creams, face masks, and incense. Stop by one of the gift shops to pick up a few souvenirs on your way out. There’s also a pretty sizeable flower shop and a restaurant on site.
Visit Ashikaga Flower Park
Ashikaga Flower Park is open year-round for different seasonal blooms. The Wisteria Festival is held from late April to mid May (in 2024, from April 13~May 15.) Exact dates are announced a few months before, so check the website for details. Admission fees also vary, depending on the month and how the flowers bloom. You can find more detailed info here. The park is a 3-min walk from JR Ashikaga Flower Park Station on the Ryomo Line.
